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Cameron ridicules Brown’s ‘terminal decline’ from power
Paul Waugh and Nicholas Cecil6 May 2009
David Cameron today warned that Gordon Brown's crumbling authority over the Cabinet would be “the big issue” at the next election.
As the pair swapped insults in one of the most vitriolic Prime Minister's Questions sessions for years, the Tory leader taunted Mr Brown that the Government was in “terminal decline”.
Mr Cameron launched a series of personal attacks on the premier, declaring that his judgment on the economy, Gurkhas and MPs' expenses were proof he was no longer fit to lead the nation.
Teasing Mr Brown over criticism from Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, he pointed out that even the Cabinet were unhappy at attempts to reconnect with voters.
Mr Brown hit back, claiming the Conservative leader was “out of his depth” on the major issues facing the country such as how to fight the recession.
But the Prime Minister's authority was ridiculed by a string of Tory backbenchers. He even appeared at one point to confirm speculation that he had angrily thrown a computer printer off a desk at No 10. Aides later suggested Mr Brown had not understood the question put to him by Tory MP Stephen Crabbe.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was equally scathing, declaring “there comes a point when stubbornness isn't leadership, it's stupidity”. When jeered by Labour ministers, he retorted: “At least I say it to his face. You say it behind his back.”
The Conservatives made clear their main electoral weapon will be to portray Mr Brown as a figure of fun and backbenchers ridiculed his YouTube appearance and his alleged rages in Downing Street, including claims that he throws mobile phones at staff.
Mr Brown faced a further challenge to his authority when four ministerial aides today went public with warnings about the plans to partially privatise the Royal Mail.
And in a fresh retreat, he was today forced to agree a meeting with Joanna Lumley to discuss the rights of Gurkha veterans. Senior Labour backbencher Keith Vaz claimed that Cabinet rivalries led to the Government's humiliating Commons defeat over the issue last week. Mr Vaz pointed to a clash between Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Defence Secretary John Hutton for turning the issue into a PR disaster.
With many MPs counting down to a general election next May, Mr Cameron signalled that Mr Brown's personality would be central to the campaign.
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 judgment.”
Reader views (11)
Keith Price, Luton, England - I notice you never responded to my comment to you about Bliar and Brown having no political experience when they were elected in 1997. How does one gain experience without actually doing the job? Or is it that you think that there should be a set of rules for your party and different rules for other parties? How very ZaNuLabout!
- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle, 07/05/2009 08:35
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After 12 years of State Socialism while Brown overtaxed us and ruined the economy of this country we have seen the erosion of personal liberty, morality, free speech and the traditional family.
He has filled our house with uninvited guests in the shape of illegal immigrants who doubtless will become solid Labour voters when he inevitably makes them citizens. What a cynic!
We have also seen terminal damage done to the Union, with the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish being over-represented and subsidized up to the hilt while the under represented English have to pick up the tab. What else would you expect with this money grabbing miserable Scot governing us?
Cameron is absolutely right, the only good act this fool can do is to call a general election and resign.
- Malcolm, Woking, England, 07/05/2009 08:34
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GORDON BROWN HAS DONE NOTHING BUT HARM TO BRITAIN, THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE WILL HAVE ABOUT 4.5 MILLION UNEMPLOYED HE IS AN UNELECTED PRIME MINISTER THE POOR JOE PUBLIC PUT ALL THEIR FAITH IN NEW LABOUR AND HAVE BEEN LET DOWN BADLY NOTHING BUT DOOM AND GLOOM BANKRUPT COMPANIES BANKING HAS BEEN ONE SORRY DISASTER HE WAS CHANCELOR HE WAS THAT STUPID HE DID NOT REALISE THE BANKS WHERE RUNNING RINGS AROUND HIM UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE EVEN WHEN HE BECAME PRIME MINISTER HIS SPEeCH TO LEAD AND SERVE HIS COUNTRY WAS AN EMBARASMENT HE HAS LEAD US ALL UP KYBER BRITAIN IS A LAUGHING STOCK NOW THANKS TO HIM AND BLAIR.
- Jim Fennessey, glasgow, 07/05/2009 00:01
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"Keith, yet again tripe. Brown has demonstrated his leadership qualities "
I agree Hugh. Brown is a fine Pm
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 06/05/2009 18:20
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Keith, please don't reiterate Gordons mantras about the conservatives, because what he says does not hold water. He repeats himself and he even said it today at Prime Ministers Questions, that they (The conservatives)have No Policies on the important issues. Then good old Gordon goes on to say (scare) that the conservatives will cut health, cut education, cut investment. If Gordon's first statement is true, the second statement is not and is therefore a lie, If the second statement is true then the first one is not and is a lie. You can't have it both ways, can you?
- Alan, carlisle uk, 06/05/2009 17:43
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Brown has built a debt-based economy and now we are all going to have to pay for it. Get rid of this clod and his fellow-idiots.
- Jamal Akhbar, Edinburgh, 06/05/2009 17:28
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The only Big Issue Mr Brown should be concerned about are the ones he wll be selling outside the Houses of Parliament soon.
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK, 06/05/2009 17:15
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Keith, yet again tripe. Brown has demonstrated his leadership qualities by spinning in the face of his claims to the contrary and which he continues to repeat on TV. He has not been fair, he has not listened, he hasn't ended bust, he took it to new dizzy heights (a stupendous low) with his sidekick, created a borrowing requirement which is more than the total govt borrowing since before the second world war.
Brown has even out spun a toy top, evidenced by everyone ridiculing his claims and the number of u turns executed and the bottling out on a referendum, election and a vote on his view of MPs expenses and failing to deliver (even start) on numerous sound bites made.
- Hugh, Middx, 06/05/2009 17:08
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Labour have turned the UK into a Police State gone bonkers.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 06/05/2009 16:47
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This is indeed rich coming from a Party leader with absolutely no political experience whatsoever
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 06/05/2009 16:00
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How many times does it have to be Proven that Gordon Brown is simply NOT fit to Govern a Kindergarten let alone a Country that he has crusified over 12 years, and DESTRIED? OUR Culture and all we fought for???????
- George Green, BRIDG.END S/WALES, 06/05/2009 15:54
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