Following the birth of his third child yesterday we were told that David Cameron would be absent from Prime Ministers Questions this week, and that William Hague would take over the reins.
But this afternoon, not three hours after PMQs began, Cameron was spotted in Portcullis House (by a particularly detail-conscious staffer) wearing a navy suit, blue shirt and red tie.
So what is going on? Is 24hours with his new baby too much for him? Abandoning Samantha and the infant quite so soon doesn’t do a lot for his family-friendly image.
Seriously though, one has to assume that the votes on the Terrorism Bill (taking place as I type) are expected to be so close that he’s been called to the House in the hope that another defeat can be inflicted on the Government.
Update: Government wins the Terrorism Bill vote 315 to 277 - a majority of 38, which considering the rebellion last time is very comfortable.
So he’s willing to turn up to vote, but not to ask questions to Tony? Still shaking from his disasterous performance last week then?
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Sure it wasn’t David Cracknell? They look pretty similar except one is the successful leader of a political party and the other is a …..
catullus said this on February 16th, 2006 at 5:54 am
Who on earth is David Cracknell?
I will be checking the voting list tomorrow to make absolutely certain.
I have confidence that most staffers can recognise the leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition, despite the fact the Tories change leaders so regularly.
Red Tamarin said this on February 16th, 2006 at 6:04 am
That is a very good question…..
catullus said this on February 16th, 2006 at 6:10 am
You realise that crackers reads this blog?
Recess Monkey said this on February 16th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Well, whoever this crackers fellow is, at least I know I’m right that Cameron was in Westminster yesterday.
Proof in the division lobbies - http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2006-02-15&number=168&display=allvotes
Red Tamarin said this on February 16th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
Ok so Gorgeous George was castigated for not turning up to vote in the Religious Hatred Bill division and now Chippendale Cameron is getting criticised for turning up to vote in the Terrorism Bill division. Make your bloody minds up!
Matt said this on February 17th, 2006 at 2:28 am
I’m not criticising David Cameron for turning up to vote in the House of Commons. I’m criticising him for saying he wasn’t coming to the Commons (and then doing so) and for coming in to the Commons to vote but not to do Prime Ministers Questions.
I think it would have been a great thing for Cameron to have set a good example by taking three full days of paternity leave (seeing him in to the week of recess, so effectively a week and a half), but sadly he didn’t.
Red Tamarin said this on February 17th, 2006 at 5:01 am
PMQs take preparation. If Cameron had an inkling the Mrs was going to pop anytime soon it woudlve been worth briefing Hague instead. Its not like Hague cant string a sentence together.
Jonny said this on February 17th, 2006 at 5:46 am
PMQs take preparation? Tell that to Cameron last week, and to Ming on his first outing!
Anyway, it’s not as though Cameron would have to do any of the preparation - there is a team of PMQ writers and researchers that do that for him. He just needs to read the brief and keep his head when he’s at the despatch box.
Red Tamarin said this on February 17th, 2006 at 6:23 am
If its so easy why can’t Prescott do it?
Guido Fawkes said this on February 17th, 2006 at 6:43 am
Guido, you seem to be confusing Prescott with a man who can string words together to form a coherent sentence.
Plus Prescott hasn’t subjugated his passionate hatred of the Tories into a form which he can control in targeted outbusts - not a problem on the campaign trail, but a weakness at the despatch box.
Red Tamarin said this on February 18th, 2006 at 12:16 am