Vacay: Part 2

So there was more to Parliament on wednesday than just Camcam trying (and failing) to charmingly persuade Gordy into admitting he was wrong. To begin with there was the rest of PMQ's to contend with, which always seem like a sprint by people who are a bit too unfit to do it easily, in that it is a real rush to get finished and you can see MP's getting visible upset and agitated as their counterparts drone on. I love seeing people get worked up; in the gallery you're in such an observation deck of a place that it's like going to the theatre. And they never seem to have much substantial to say anyways.

So after Cam had caved and sat down a question arose about the car industry to which the reponse was very uniform and predictable, along the lines of "yes we do believe the car industry is very important in Britain and we will continue to support it". But now Nickleg (hehehehe) wants his turn. He slides in with a slightly more 'party politics' approach raising the question of whether it is right that non-domicilied UK peers should not pay their full taxes, to which Brown speedily and sharply responded "of course not". Nice. The Conservatives are still trying to push for an admission that the UK is in worse times than anyone else. Apparently that would only be the case in a Conservative "dreamworld". hmmmmm. Don't panic the Conservatives take a break......for now.
Ok so we're now onto the BBC Gaza appeal crisis. "Has the BBC damaged it's reputation?". Gordy tactfully implores that it is not the Government's place to comment on the decisions of the independent BBC and Sky but that the Government was doing all it could to help the people of Gaza. Good Stuff. Now we have something scandalous. Asked about the scandal of Labour Peers accused of selling Laws For Cash Gordon Brown responds that the Speaker of the Lords, Baroness Hayman, is looking into the crisis and is handling it well. Emergency sanctions may have to be put in place if the allegations turn out to be true. Corus have apparently talked to the Government. Oh Great.
Onto an issue that is, as you may have guessed, one i care about a lot. The NI crisis. The wording of the question is particularly significant as it asks if "terroists" families should be paid the same as those of innocent victims. However the response from Gordy is solid and true - no form of terroist is acceptable to the Government and he will never forget the innocent victims of the troubles when looking at any compensation proposals.

So the central section of PMQ's was dominated by the headlines, giving the press plenty to chew the next day. It is notable that when addressing NI party politics dissappears as everyone appears to reach a mutual understanding of what should be done. More soon. Promise!