The Moon of Liberty

I kick off my parliament section with today's PMQ's. I will score all sessions (PMQ's and any debates) with the performaces of the main players out of 5. Again, just my opinion and just for fun. I'm sure many will disagree with my view.

11th July 2007 - Prime Minster Questions 12:00 start

Venue - The House of Commons at the Palace of Westminster

After what most agree was a bad performace last week, new Prime Minister Gordon Brown hit back today with a much more solid performance, helped by some poor judgement by Conservative Leader David Cameron, to regain credibility in this hothuse atmosphere.

He began by offering condolences to service men killed in Iraq, but the NHS was the issue Cameron decided to lead his attack on. A report published by Lord Darcy into hospital services in London suggested, at least Mr Cameron claimed, that hospital services across London would be under threat.

Brown countered with a passage which clearly concluded that no hospitals or services would be closed as a result of the review. He also argued many more hospitals were being built due to Labour investment, something the Conservatoves would not match. 'Who is closing the hospitals, it's the Conservatives.' Brown claimed. This seems a strange claim as Labour are the Governemnt and Cameron cannot close any hospitals, even if he wanted to. Surely Cameron would nail this down.

No, he actually did not. He pressed on with quotes from the repot Brown had already refuted. Last week when faced with Brown countering with question over the Tories opposition on ID cards, Cameron demolished the argument, today Cameron said nothing. The casual observer would be left to wonder if Camaeron's silence means he is indeed planning cuts. It will reinforce a strong Labour card, cries of 'Tory cuts' have dogged the Troies for a decade, today that (In reality) weak argument was able to win the day.

With Cameron's silence, Brown gained more confidence. Cameron had given Brown a full free shot at the 'Labour invest in hospitals, the Tories cut services' argument, and he smacked the invitation well over the boundary. He finished with the best line 'you do the PR, I'll carry on being PM.' The Tory bench looked miserable for the rest of the session, Game set and match.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT

DELIVERY - Both men delivered their lines well, although Brown's lines were better.

STRATEGY - Cameron was one dimensional regarding the speciifcs of the report, unlike last week, Brown took great pleasure in taking advange.

ARGUMENT - Brown, partly due to Cameron's own fault, was able to establish the 'Tory Cuts' argument, and reminded us all who was the PM, great approach when you are already on top.

QUOTES - 'You do the PR, I'll carry on being PM' from Brown was the best line of the day.

MISC - The Labour benches were calling for more at the end, the Tories looked miserable, sometimes this is pure partisanship and not a reflection of what happened, today this was a true reflection.

SCORE (OUT OF FIVE) Gordon Brown 4 David Cameron 1 - After last weeks let down, Brown evens the score with a clear victory.