Stephen Tall

How do you solve a problem like PMQs?

By | Sat 4th August 2007 - 2:53 pm

Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone has posed an interesting question over at her blog – how the demeaning farce which is Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons can be improved:

To me – yes, it’s great theatre and even fun at time but – it’s utterly crap as a way of holding the Prime Minister or Government to account – and I doubt the baying mob moment where everyone (except polite Lib Dems of course!) is cheering or booing does much for the reputation of politics.

After all – what would you think of someone who behaved in a work meeting the way the boorish heckling backbenchers do at PMQs? So – you may have guessed I’m not impressed!

Still though I’d be interested to hear other people’s views – what do you make of PMQs? Is it any good? Does it damage politics etc? Let me know what you think!

You can post your replies at Lynne’s blog here.

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This entry was posted in News and PMQs.
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4 Comments

  • jim 4th Aug '07 - 11:54pm

    With so many crap performances by Ming its hardly surprising that Featherstone wants the format changed,I can imagine how embarrassing it must be for her every week.

  • Stuart 5th Aug '07 - 12:24am

    jim… whatever, love.

  • Lib Dem member 5th Aug '07 - 9:34am

    There is an interesting thread of comments on Ms Featherstone’s blog, with PMQs given a better defence than I expected. It is an interesting debate, with the only sour note being from Jim in this thread.

    You remind me of a drunken teenager who runs into a room, shouts some abuse, and runs out again thinking they are very, very, very clever. Only they’re not.

    Reading back over your comments Jim, all I find are insults and no serious attempt to engage in discussion with anyone.

    I am suprised – though perhaps I should not be – that you think this approach achieves anything other than making you (Jim) look silly and rude.

  • Geoffrey Payne 5th Aug '07 - 9:10pm

    William Hague was supposed to be good at PMQs, and it did him no good whatsoever.
    I think Parliament has a serious job to do; debating policies. In comparison, PMQs are a waste of time.

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