The Full Story: PM's questions
BBC POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID THOMPSON'S VERDICT
It was only a slip of the tongue... The problem is, a lot of people
suspect Gordon Brown might actually believe it.
When the prime minister said "we not only saved the world", when, I
think, he meant to say, "we not only saved the banks", he gave David
Cameron a priceless opportunity to accuse him of being more concerned
with grandstanding on the global stage than dealing with the fears of
small businesses and homeowners caught between a Northern Rock and a
hard place.
Today's PMQs was a chance for both main parties to showcase their
determination to beat the downturn. As such, there was a lot of sound
and fury, signifying, well, nothing much you haven't heard already.
David Cameron tried to turn Labour's taunt that the Conservatives are
the "do-nothing" party on its head by accusing the government of doing
nothing to tackle the real financial concerns of business and the
public.
The prime minister said the Tories were a throwback to the 1980s - and
would do nothing to protect ordinary people from the ravages of likely
recession. Nick Clegg for the LibDems went for the government on tax
credits, saying the system for administering them was confused,
bureaucratic and cruel. A bit like, some might say, life in Westminster.
NICK ROBINSON AND DAILY POLITICS VERDICTS AS IT HAPPENED: BY EMMA
GRIFFITHS
1335: That's it for this week. Whether the PM's slip of the tongue about
saving the world will prove an internet hit remains to be seen, but it
certainly gave many at Westminster a laugh. Please join us again next
Wednesday for the last PMQs of 2008.
1332: Asked about the Speaker, Ms Hewitt says there is no doubt at all
that there is "widespread concern" about him - but returns to attacking
the Conservatives' position on what action should be taken to deal with
the economy.
1332: Grant Shapps says the Tories "absolutely" want a general election
- echoing comments in a speech by his party leader yesterday. He says
people will have to pay for the decisions made by the government in the
future.
1331: Patricia Hewitt tells World at One Mr Cameron was "completely
against" the government borrowing and spending which was the only way to
help people through the recession. Susan Kramer says the Lib Dems are
"ahead of the game" both in identifying the crisis and coming up with
solutions. She reiterates the point that small businesses still cannot
get loans.
1329: Lib Dem Susan Kramer says everyone roared with laughter because
"you can practically see him getting into the Superman outfit" before
entering the Commons. She says the important thing was the economy and
criticises the Conservatives for backing "inaction". For the Tories
Grant Shapps says the Conservatives have pledged action and the
government has followed their measures
1326: Referring to Mr Brown's "saving the world" slip of the tongue on
the BBC's World at One, former health secretary Patricia Hewitt says it
"excites people in Westminster" for a couple of hours and Mr Brown had
been smiling about it himself. She says the British public rather like
their PMs to be doing well on the world stage and Mr Brown has been a
"commanding figure".
1249: Nick Robinson ponders a possible policy announcement on lap
dancing clubs during PMQs. He said the public in areas where shops and
businesses were closing and the clubs were moving in would get some form
of veto, or at least a say in new legislation.
1242: Minister Caroline Flint says Mr Brown is "what he is", many people
did not like clever patter by politicians and were more interested in
who was taking the right decisions to help them.
1240: For the government Caroline Flint says these are difficult times
that will get tougher. She said the government was aware it could not
take the pain away from everyone but wanted to limit the damage to
families.
1238: Tory frontbencher Michael Gove says the charge the Tories are a do
nothing party will not stick. He says Mr Brown attempts to caricature
his opponents by creating "false dividing lines". He says voters are
more intelligent than to fall for a "blunt and bogus" set of dividing
lines.
1237: Back in the Daily Politics studio BBC political editor Nick
Robinson says the clip about "we not only saved the world" would be
played again and again and perhaps Mr Brown should have made a joke
about it. For his enemies it was a gift, he adds and will probably be
all over the internet.
1236: Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell is now making a
statement to MPs about his plans for welfare reform. Your can watch the
statement live via the video stream at the top of this page. You can
read about it
1232: A DUP MP also asks about credit to small firms and asks what more
can be done. Mr Brown says HSBC and other banks had announced schemes in
the last few days - he says no small businesses should be put in a
position where an overdraft or capital is withdrawn if they are a viable
business. And the session ends.
1231: Tory MP Graham Stuart asks a question about new figures suggesting
child abuse is three times as high as had been thought and asks if there
is something "profoundly wrong with out society". Mr Brown says they
would ensure child protection arrangements were effective, social
workers were better trained and inspections were carried out bi-
annually. Further action would be taken once Lord Laming's review
reported back, he said.
1230: Labour MP Michael Connarty asks about a proposal he feels would
effectively turn credit unions into banks. Mr Brown says they will
respond to consultations but there was a £80m growth fund to expand the
capacity of credit unions and the government wanted to give them all the
support they need.
1229
"He says GP surgeries are open evenings and weekends. They are not. Ours
is not even available every day of the week."
Cheesed off, UK
1229: Tory MP Andrew Robathan asks a question about small businesses not
getting loans and urges him to adopt Tory proposals for a small business
loan guarantee scheme - Mr Brown says there is already a scheme and
lists other measures to help small businesses like deferring VAT
payments.
1226: Lib Dem MP Phil Willis asks a question about a TV programme
showing the death of a terminally ill constituent - Mr Brown says
assisted dying was a "matter of conscience" but says there should never
be a case where a sick or elderly person should feel under pressure to
agree to an assisted death. On the programme itself he says such issues
should be dealt with sensitively and it would be a matter for the TV
watchdogs when the programme was shown.
1226: Labour MP Michael Foster says "compassion and support" are
important in any welfare reform. Mr Brown says reforms will let disabled
people make their own decisions about how best services can meet their
needs. "That is showing compassion as well as moving forward reform".
1224: Tory MP David Amess asks about a target to eliminate fuel poverty
and says it is failing. He says the PM should "save lives this winter"
and meet the targets. Mr Brown says the winter fuel allowance for
pensioners had been raised, while there had been no such allowance under
the Tories.
1224: In response to another question Mr Brown says there will be a new
prompt payment code which he hopes as many firms as possible will sign
up to.
1222: Labour MP Martin Linton asks a question about GP surgeries. Mr
Brown says more surgeries are open at weekends and evenings because the
government had provided the money.
1221: Mr Brown shrugs off Mr Clegg's calls for fixed payments in such
cases and says 6m families receive and benefit from tax credits and says
they would continue to take children out of poverty.
1219: Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says he was recently visited by a single
mother at his Sheffield constituency - but the Speaker has to call for
order after laughter from Labour MPs. Mr Clegg says she was being chased
for tax credits and was "terrified". He asks if this is the kind of help
people need during a recession. Mr Brown says he will look at details of
the case but tax credits had taken people out of poverty. Mr Clegg says
the PM thinks he is "Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders" but is
dragging low income families to court.
1218: Labour MP Alan Simpson says it is nice to have a PM who wants to
save the world while the Tories can barely "save face".
1217: Mr Brown says the Tory leader has said he would "do nothing" to
help people and says they will "say anything to disguise the fact they
will do nothing" and says they are "not fit for government" as their
clash comes to an end.
1217: Mr Cameron says Labour's scheme will affect few businesses. He
says the PM has brought the country "to the brink of bankruptcy", to
roars of approval from Tory MPs.
1216: Mr Cameron quotes the Guardian. After pointing out they get
"government leaks without anyone being arrested" he says the paper
suggests the Treasury may be adapting Tory plans for a national loan
guarantee scheme. The PM says they have their own scheme, on top of
various other schemes. "We are going to do more in the next few days
because we want to do everything we can," says the PM. But he says that
can only be done with a fiscal stimulus.
1214: The prime minister accuses the chairman of the public accounts
committee - Edward Leigh - of "uncaring Conservatism" in comments about
the VAT cut.
1214: "While he thinks he is saving the world we are talking about
businesses in the real world," replies Mr Cameron. He says time and
money is being wasted on a "pointless VAT cut" rather than fixing
problems with lending to businesses.
1213: Mr Brown says taxpayers' money is being used rightly to help small
businesses while the Tories would "do nothing" and let the recession
take its course.
1212: Mr Cameron continues to focus on the Conservative'
wider loan guarantee scheme. He says only 0.2% of businesses are covered
by the current scheme. He quotes the Council of Mortgage Lenders as
saying that government policy is "conflicting and incoherent". Mr Brown
says the CML supports their repossessions policy, which the Tories
don't. "I'm sorry to have to teach him what the economy is about," says
Mr Brown.
1211: Mr Brown says measures taken already would not have been possible
if the Tories' advice had been followed. "We are taking the measures
that are necessary" says Mr Brown. He says the UK needs a "fiscal
investment" - he says the Tories are "clinging to the failed policies of
the 1980s".
1210: Mr Cameron enjoyed that Brown slip of the tongue. He says it is
finally on the record - the PM is so busy saving the world he has
forgotten about businesses and the country. He says the recapitalisation
scheme is not working and says no other country has copied the details
of Mr Brown's plan.
1208: Mr Brown waits until the laughter dies down and says not one
depositor has lost any money in Britain. He says interest rates have
come down and they are working to remove other "barriers" to lending
with banks. He says the government has "led the world" in saving the
banks.
1205: David Cameron starts by sending his condolences to the soldier's
family. He asks how the government is going to get the banks to lend to
businesses. He says Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has said
recapitalisation should ensure the flow of lending returns to normal
rates. Mr Cameron said on this basis the PM's plan has failed. In his
reply Mr Brown says he has saved the banks, then raises laughter by
accidentally saying he has "saved the world".
1204: Labour MP Alison Seabeck says businesses have welcomed government
initiatives on the economy and asks Mr Brown for reassurances it will do
everything it can to help them and homeowners. Mr Brown assures her they
will and say Labour is leading the way on the economy, welfare reform
and help for small businesses.
1203: The prime minister starts by paying tribute to a British soldier
killed in Iraq
1202: BBC political editor Nick Robinson tells the Daily Politics he
expects David Cameron will either ask questions about welfare reform and
suggest they will go through with Tory support or try to highlight the
divide between the two parties on the economy.
1201: And we're off. Gordon Brown begins the session immediately after
Scottish secretary Jim Murphy finishes the preceeding session by
answering an SNP attack on plans for a British football team at the 2012
Olympics
1158: Anne McGuire is speaking as Scotland questions approach their end
in the Commons. The chamber is filling up. John Hutton is chatting with
Alan Johnson. Alistair Darling is sitting in position ready to flank
Brown when the session gets under way.
1155: On housing, Europe minister Caroline Flint - a former housing
minister - says banks should sign up to attempts to restrict
repossessions. She says ministers will look at Northern Rock's high
repossession rate and try to resolve it. Repossession should be a last
resort, she says on Daily Politics.
1152: Tory frontbencher Michael Gove tells the BBC's Daily Politics the
Conservatives are likely to support the government's welfare reforms as
they are very similar to their own plans. Labour backbencher Frank
Field, a former welfare reform minister, says they should push to make
the reform more radical and welfare should be "abolished as we know it".
1150: What subjects are likely to be raised today? The economy - and
David Cameron's attack on Gordon Brown's planned "borrowing binge" - has
to be one of the favourites. There may also be a mention of the benefit
reforms which are set to be spelled out in detail in a statement to MPs
immediately after PM's questions finishes.
1141: Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Prime Minister's
Questions in the House of Commons. The half hour session begins at noon.
You can watch live on this page, and read the key points as they happen.
We'll be taking in the views of BBC experts and guests from television
and radio programmes. And you can have your say too via our live
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.
Published: 2008/12/10 13:55:04 GMT
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Posts
