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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown 'not up to job' - Cameron | Brown 'not up to job' - Cameron |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives used prime minister's question time to turn up the heat on Gordon Brown - accusing him of not being up to the job. | The Conservatives used prime minister's question time to turn up the heat on Gordon Brown - accusing him of not being up to the job. |
| Leader David Cameron said Mr Brown's government was in "terminal decline" and called for a general election. | Leader David Cameron said Mr Brown's government was in "terminal decline" and called for a general election. |
| Mr Brown also faced a string of hostile questions from backbench Conservative MPs about his fitness for office. | Mr Brown also faced a string of hostile questions from backbench Conservative MPs about his fitness for office. |
| Mr Brown said he was "ashamed" of the Tories for ignoring the issues that mattered such as jobs and the economy. | Mr Brown said he was "ashamed" of the Tories for ignoring the issues that mattered such as jobs and the economy. |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson, commenting afterwards, said the Conservatives had clearly decided to make Mr Brown's leadership the issue, after his first Commons defeat on Gurkha settlement rights and stories about possible challenges. | BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson, commenting afterwards, said the Conservatives had clearly decided to make Mr Brown's leadership the issue, after his first Commons defeat on Gurkha settlement rights and stories about possible challenges. |
| 'Big decisions' | 'Big decisions' |
| During the half hour Commons session, Mr Cameron seized on comments by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, who wrote "YouTube if you want to" in a weekend press article, an apparent criticism of Mr Brown's much-criticised appearance the social media site. | During the half hour Commons session, Mr Cameron seized on comments by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, who wrote "YouTube if you want to" in a weekend press article, an apparent criticism of Mr Brown's much-criticised appearance the social media site. |
| He asked: "How much more mocking can you get than that? | He asked: "How much more mocking can you get than that? |
| "Who on earth do you think she is referring to. Don't you realise your government simply cannot go on like this? Why is she still in the cabinet?" | "Who on earth do you think she is referring to. Don't you realise your government simply cannot go on like this? Why is she still in the cabinet?" |
| Why do you think you got so many judgements so badly wrong? David Cameron to Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8035460.stm">The Full Story: PM's questions | |
| Mr Brown, sidestepping the question, replied: "What we are taking on the recession is action. | Mr Brown, sidestepping the question, replied: "What we are taking on the recession is action. |
| "We're helping the unemployed get back into work - opposed by the Conservatives. We're helping people with their mortgages - opposed by the Conservatives. We're helping businesses get help with their cash flow - opposed by the Conservatives. | "We're helping the unemployed get back into work - opposed by the Conservatives. We're helping people with their mortgages - opposed by the Conservatives. We're helping businesses get help with their cash flow - opposed by the Conservatives. |
| "We're going to give a September schools' guarantee to every school-leaver that they will get work, or training or educational support - and that's also opposed by the Conservatives. | "We're going to give a September schools' guarantee to every school-leaver that they will get work, or training or educational support - and that's also opposed by the Conservatives. |
| "Let's talk about the real issues in government. It's making big decisions in difficult times and you are simply not up to the task." | "Let's talk about the real issues in government. It's making big decisions in difficult times and you are simply not up to the task." |
| 'Failure of authority' | 'Failure of authority' |
| The Tory leader said the big issue in politics today was that "the man who is meant to be leading our country shows such appalling judgement. That's the reason you are losing your authority. | The Tory leader said the big issue in politics today was that "the man who is meant to be leading our country shows such appalling judgement. That's the reason you are losing your authority. |
| "Let's look at the string of misjudgements we've seen. You've made U-turns on Titan prisons, the internet database, MPs' expenses and that humiliating defeat on the Gurkhas. | "Let's look at the string of misjudgements we've seen. You've made U-turns on Titan prisons, the internet database, MPs' expenses and that humiliating defeat on the Gurkhas. |
| "Why do you think you got so many judgements so badly wrong?" | "Why do you think you got so many judgements so badly wrong?" |
| I've listened to your six questions and not one of them has been about policy Gordon Brown to David Cameron | I've listened to your six questions and not one of them has been about policy Gordon Brown to David Cameron |
| Mr Brown said the biggest U-turn was Mr Cameron supporting the government's public spending and then now saying he would not match it. | Mr Brown said the biggest U-turn was Mr Cameron supporting the government's public spending and then now saying he would not match it. |
| Mr Cameron told him: "I'm afraid that just won't wash. The communities secretary ... didn't write an article about the NHS, or unemployment, or the recession. | Mr Cameron told him: "I'm afraid that just won't wash. The communities secretary ... didn't write an article about the NHS, or unemployment, or the recession. |
| "She wrote an article about your leadership and your failure of authority." | "She wrote an article about your leadership and your failure of authority." |
| In a sustained attack on Mr Brown's judgement and fitness to govern, Mr Cameron claimed the PM was "isolated" in his own cabinet, that he was scared of elections and running an "utterly busted government". | In a sustained attack on Mr Brown's judgement and fitness to govern, Mr Cameron claimed the PM was "isolated" in his own cabinet, that he was scared of elections and running an "utterly busted government". |
| "No one doubts you might have come into politics for the right reasons. But isn't it clear you're just not up to the job? | "No one doubts you might have come into politics for the right reasons. But isn't it clear you're just not up to the job? |
| "The public know it. Your party know it and now the cabinet knows it. So why not do the last bold thing left to you - call an election?" | "The public know it. Your party know it and now the cabinet knows it. So why not do the last bold thing left to you - call an election?" |
| 'Ashamed' | 'Ashamed' |
| Mr Brown brushed aside the criticisms, telling Mr Cameron: "I've listened to your six questions and not one of them has been about policy", adding: "You are completely out of your depth when it comes to the big issues." | Mr Brown brushed aside the criticisms, telling Mr Cameron: "I've listened to your six questions and not one of them has been about policy", adding: "You are completely out of your depth when it comes to the big issues." |
| Tory backbenchers also lined up to criticised Mr Brown's leadership and repeated calls for a general election. | Tory backbenchers also lined up to criticised Mr Brown's leadership and repeated calls for a general election. |
| One of them, Stephen Crabb, referring to recent press reports about life inside Number 10, said: "What do you intend to do about the important issue of bullying in the workplace, given the reliable reports of a senior Whitehall boss throwing mobile phones and printers and swearing at switchboard operators?" | One of them, Stephen Crabb, referring to recent press reports about life inside Number 10, said: "What do you intend to do about the important issue of bullying in the workplace, given the reliable reports of a senior Whitehall boss throwing mobile phones and printers and swearing at switchboard operators?" |
| Amid Tory laughter, Mr Brown said: "Any complaints are dealt with in the usual manner." | Amid Tory laughter, Mr Brown said: "Any complaints are dealt with in the usual manner." |
| Another Tory MP, Andrew Rosindell asked Mr Brown what his response would be to the petition on the Downing Street website calling for him to quit. | Another Tory MP, Andrew Rosindell asked Mr Brown what his response would be to the petition on the Downing Street website calling for him to quit. |
| Mr Brown said: "I've now listened to the Tory backbenchers for the last 20 minutes and not one of them has asked a serious question about policy." | Mr Brown said: "I've now listened to the Tory backbenchers for the last 20 minutes and not one of them has asked a serious question about policy." |
| He said they should be "ashamed" of themselves. | He said they should be "ashamed" of themselves. |