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| PMQs: MPs have to be reminded that people watching them 'scream like banshees' on TV will be voting in a few weeks' time | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| MPs had to be reminded yet again today that there are actually people watching them during Prime Minister’s Questions, as grown adults made chicken noises at each other in the country’s seat of power. | MPs had to be reminded yet again today that there are actually people watching them during Prime Minister’s Questions, as grown adults made chicken noises at each other in the country’s seat of power. |
| Ed Miliband picked the Tories' missed net migration targets and proposals for TV debates as the topics he wanted answers on from David Cameron – but it quickly became apparent he wouldn’t be getting any. | Ed Miliband picked the Tories' missed net migration targets and proposals for TV debates as the topics he wanted answers on from David Cameron – but it quickly became apparent he wouldn’t be getting any. |
| Instead, Labour MPs squawked at the Prime Minister from across the Commons, while the most memorable interjection from Mr Cameron was to bring up Ed Balls’ cringeworthy appearance on LBC Radio where he said he was a “long, slow burn” in the bedroom. At one point the Speaker, John Bercow, had to interject with a reminder: “Can I just ask the house to have some regard for the views of the public about our behaviour given that we will be seeking their support in the weeks ahead?” | Instead, Labour MPs squawked at the Prime Minister from across the Commons, while the most memorable interjection from Mr Cameron was to bring up Ed Balls’ cringeworthy appearance on LBC Radio where he said he was a “long, slow burn” in the bedroom. At one point the Speaker, John Bercow, had to interject with a reminder: “Can I just ask the house to have some regard for the views of the public about our behaviour given that we will be seeking their support in the weeks ahead?” |
| And in a point of order following the proceedings, the Labour MP Paul Flynn branded today's PMQs “the worst ever”. | And in a point of order following the proceedings, the Labour MP Paul Flynn branded today's PMQs “the worst ever”. |
| Understandably, the “views of the public” were largely disparaging: | Understandably, the “views of the public” were largely disparaging: |
| That sound is the nails being screwed into the coffin of the TV debates #PMQs. Or else it's the sound of Labour MPs making chicken noises | That sound is the nails being screwed into the coffin of the TV debates #PMQs. Or else it's the sound of Labour MPs making chicken noises |
| How about, just once, the PM tries to actually answer #PMQs and the braying masses shut up and listen to questions & answers #flyingpigs | How about, just once, the PM tries to actually answer #PMQs and the braying masses shut up and listen to questions & answers #flyingpigs |
| Question around whether PMQs is damaging to public opinion of Parliament. Cameron says it's a "robust exchange" and more can be done #PMQs | Question around whether PMQs is damaging to public opinion of Parliament. Cameron says it's a "robust exchange" and more can be done #PMQs |
| Honestly, the barracking noise of #PMQs can only turn people off politics and bring even more distance between politicians and voters | Honestly, the barracking noise of #PMQs can only turn people off politics and bring even more distance between politicians and voters |
| Following #pmqs online is so much better than watching. Don't have to put up with all the childlike geering and paper waving. | Following #pmqs online is so much better than watching. Don't have to put up with all the childlike geering and paper waving. |
| What is the point of #PMQs? The PM doesn't actually answer a single question put to him. | What is the point of #PMQs? The PM doesn't actually answer a single question put to him. |
| I was taught never to answer a question with a question. Public schools must teach different #PMQs | I was taught never to answer a question with a question. Public schools must teach different #PMQs |
| No more Punch and Judy politics... another Cameron broken promise #PMQs | No more Punch and Judy politics... another Cameron broken promise #PMQs |
| .@PaulFlynnMP slams #PMQs as 'worst ever'. Says if Questions and Answers continue to be so unrelated, wouldn't it be better to abolish... | .@PaulFlynnMP slams #PMQs as 'worst ever'. Says if Questions and Answers continue to be so unrelated, wouldn't it be better to abolish... |
| Following #PMQs Paul Flynn says the PM should be sent on a seminar to learn the meaning of the words "question" and "answer". | Following #PMQs Paul Flynn says the PM should be sent on a seminar to learn the meaning of the words "question" and "answer". |
| Sneering, rowdy,rude an arrogant. Don't these idiots realise that us, the voters are watching, an we are not impressed! #bbcdp #PMQs | Sneering, rowdy,rude an arrogant. Don't these idiots realise that us, the voters are watching, an we are not impressed! #bbcdp #PMQs |
| Christ that was bad. And boring. And pointless. Good news is there's only three more to go before the election #pmqs | Christ that was bad. And boring. And pointless. Good news is there's only three more to go before the election #pmqs |
| Quite amazing that the standard of debate at #surreydecides was far superior to what I've just seen at #PMQs | Quite amazing that the standard of debate at #surreydecides was far superior to what I've just seen at #PMQs |
| To shouts of 'More!', PM avoids giving answers by listing to run down time like late Clement Freud on Just A Minute. Not an edifying #PMQs. | To shouts of 'More!', PM avoids giving answers by listing to run down time like late Clement Freud on Just A Minute. Not an edifying #PMQs. |
| @PaulFlynnMP is absolutely right. Today's #PMQs were a disgraceful farce | @PaulFlynnMP is absolutely right. Today's #PMQs were a disgraceful farce |
| Pointless, spineless Prime Minister. Defend your record and answer a question. Just one. #PMQs | Pointless, spineless Prime Minister. Defend your record and answer a question. Just one. #PMQs |
| An unusually empty chamber for #PMQs pic.twitter.com/T5dhzsictA | An unusually empty chamber for #PMQs pic.twitter.com/T5dhzsictA |
| Ahead of today’s session in the Commons, the Lib Dem MP John Pugh hit out at his colleagues for “screaming like banshees” at Mr Balls last week when it was mentioned that he had forgotten the full name of a businessman who backed Labour. | Ahead of today’s session in the Commons, the Lib Dem MP John Pugh hit out at his colleagues for “screaming like banshees” at Mr Balls last week when it was mentioned that he had forgotten the full name of a businessman who backed Labour. |
| “It's actually worse than the schoolyard,” he told the Commons on Tuesday, “but we'll see it repeated again at 12 o'clock tomorrow.” | “It's actually worse than the schoolyard,” he told the Commons on Tuesday, “but we'll see it repeated again at 12 o'clock tomorrow.” |
| Mr Bercow yesterday repeated his criticism of the way PMQs is conducted, and called for the party leaders to improve the tone of the exchanges. | Mr Bercow yesterday repeated his criticism of the way PMQs is conducted, and called for the party leaders to improve the tone of the exchanges. |
| Labour have proposed a “sin bin” for repeat offenders whose rowdiness persistently interrupts proceedings, while Mr Miliband said he doesn’t see PMQs as “a great advert for politics or Parliament”. | Labour have proposed a “sin bin” for repeat offenders whose rowdiness persistently interrupts proceedings, while Mr Miliband said he doesn’t see PMQs as “a great advert for politics or Parliament”. |