Sketchup
It was a particularly rowdy occasion at prime minister's questions on Wednesday where the big topics were Afghanistan and the economy.
Gordon Brown's performance to that of a triumphant army general, with his soldiers (aka Labour MPs) firmly behind him on this occasion. He chose class as his battlefield, one which he is expected to use in the next general election campaign:
"David Cameron was bombarded for having been to Eton.
Ìý
"Not entirely novel but, by jingo, it cheered Labour's parliamentary troops.
Ìý
"They behaved as though they were going to win the next election. Haven't looked so cheerful since the 2007 floods."
Gordon Brown had a renewed vigour at the despatch box:
"Gordon Brown was, as if by magic, back on big bruiser form, brimming with confidence, a man of the people who had found his voice again. It was as if the previous year had never happened. Indeed the previous two years.
Ìý
"'Alastair Campbell must be back feeding him one-liners,' said observers, in disbelief - it was as if they had seen a ghost - the Ghost of Gordon's Glorious Past."
When the debate turned to the subject of inheritance tax, the PM did not miss the opportunity to refer to Tory candidate Zac Goldsmith in his attack on David Cameron. As Robert Orchard describes it on Yesterday in Parliament:
"[Gordon Brown] was cock-a-hoop, confident he'd comprehensively turned the tables on his Tory tormenter".
Not everyone is of the view that the PM had done so well. As Simon Hoggart points out, he not only said that Spain is a member of the G20 (which it isn't) but he also got US actress Reese Witherspoon's name wrong:
"Mr Brown paid tribute to 'Renny Wutherspoon'. Scottish readers: don't hesitate to tell me this is the way it's pronounced in east Scotland, you English bigot!"
The Independent's Simon Carr has faint praise for the PM's performance:
"Gordon. Was. Actually. Quite. Good.
Ìý
"There it is. There you have it.
Ìý
"That's not just quite good compared with his usual. He was good enough to stop them talking about changing leaders."
•
•
• Robert Orchard | Yesterday in Parliament
•
•
