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PMQs - The Verdict
Edward Davie
It was the last prime minister's questions before Christmas but there was precious little generosity of spirit on offer in the chamber.
Acting Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable at least sounded a seasonal note as he laid into his old friend Gordon Brown for the last time.
"When the prime minister tucks into his brussels sprouts on his one day off at Christmas, which of the various disasters of the last six months will he regret the most?" he asked.
The prime minister, memorably dubbed "Mr Bean" by Cable, could not resist trying to have a dig back.
"It is nice to have the right honourable gentleman here and I thank him for his appearances over the past few weeks." he replied.
"Given the history of the Liberal Party it may not be long before he is back in that place again within a few months."
But Cable managed to turn it round one last time: "Given his own position the prime minister might not want to speculate about leadership elections."
"Look behind you," Tory backbenchers jeered at Brown, getting into the pantomime spirit.
Earlier David Cameron had tried to strike a more statesmanlike tone using his first set of enquiries to ask about Kosovo's bid for independence from Serbia.
Brown said he backed "supervised independence" which is presumably similar to that which Iraq and Afghanistan enjoy.
According to the prime minister the issue will be discussed at the forthcoming EU council.
Of course Brown is arriving at the gathering in Portugal too late for the official signing of the reform treaty and will strike a lonely figure putting pen to paper on his own.
This was a point Cameron picked up in the more Punch and Judy-esque second exchange when he said: "We've got a prime minister who can't even decide whether he is going to Lisbon, or sign the European treaty - isn't it clear we've now got an utterly dysfunctional government?"
At the official signing Brown will be represented by David Miliband and the Tory leader found time to quote him.
Cameron said: "In February the now foreign secretary said this: 'I predict that in six months or a year's time people will be saying "wouldn't it be great to have that Blair back because we can't stand that Gordon Brown."' Is the prime minister grateful for having such a far-sighted foreign secretary?"
Brown fell back on what seems to be his only tactic rattling off the government's "achievements" and plans for the future. Some of his own backbenchers looked as if they really were missing Blair - if only during these weekly jousts.
If Kosovo is set to declare independence it is no longer beyond the bounds of reality to see Brown's home country doing something similar.
The SNP's tactic to bring this about is to wind up the English with generous public service awards and some Conservatives seem happy to oblige.
Michael Fabricant raised the fact that police officers in Scotland are now paid more than their colleagues south of the border.
While nationalists pointed out from a sedentary position that this was due to a "SNP government" the prime minister said that the pay rise was paid for by scrapping 500 promised new officers.
With police officers threatening to strike, the SNP riding high and Cameron sniping, the only Christmas present Brown got on this occasion was to see the back of Cable - for now.
The Verdict
Gordon Brown: 6/10 - Not his worst performance but will hope the new Lib Dem leader will be an easier prospect than Cable.
David Cameron: 7/10 - Tried a not entirely successful twin-track approach.
Vince Cable: 8/10 - Has set the bar high for whoever succeeds him.
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Published: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:36:54 GMT+00
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