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PMQs - The verdict
Daniel Forman
Despite Labour's best efforts to hit the Tory leader over his "hug a hoodie" speech - the whips are using a 'bash Cameron' strategy with the Labour MPs who get the first question at the moment, which gives Tony Blair the first and last word in his exchange with the Tory leader - this was not a comfortable session for the prime minister.
The opposition parties took their pick from the multitude of problems afflicting the government, most of which centre on the Home Office and deputy prime minister.
Cameron ranged from police force mergers (in chaos), ID cards (delayed) and the prospect of John Prescott taking charge of the country in August ("please tell us that isn't going to happen").
Blair did his best to defend his embattled home secretary, who sat grim-faced at his side. But he offered little protection to the absent Prescott, saying only that the arrangements would be as before.
Sir Menzies Campbell chose another Home Office headache as his theme: extraditions to the US.
It was the same subject as last week for the Liberal Democrat leader but he is making headway with it, with the media interested in the 'NatWest three' case and the speaker having granted an extraordinary debate on the issue immediately after PMQs.
Lib Dem researchers had also dug up a quote from Home Office minister Baroness Scotland in which she admitted that British courts required a "higher threshold" to extradite American citizens than in reverse.
The prime minister denied this was the case but did not completely hang his minister out to dry, leaving himself a bit of wriggleroom by saying the arrangements were "roughly analogous".
But it was back to that speech on teenage clothing choices for the best backbench contribution, with Sir Gerald Kaufman asking whether the "hooded youths" who mugged him were "simply making a plea for love and understanding".
For all the coverage it got for his modernising message, Cameron may already be regretting that soundbite, not least because it provided Labour MPs with rare moments of cheer.
The verdict
Blair: 6/10 - Only one more of these to get through before the beach beckons.
Cameron: 7/10 - Hampered by hoodies, could not quite land a killer blow.
Campbell: 8/10 - Setting the agenda on extraditions.
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Published: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:57:03 GMT+01
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