الاثنين، 14 سبتمبر 2015

Has Corbyn Taken The Punch Out Of PMQs?


Something very strange happened at Prime Minister's Questions as new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn took on David Cameron at the despatch box for the first time.
It was easy to hear in the House of Commons what MPs said. Nobody shouted.
The naughty MPs - who sit on the steps of the aisle so they can distract the opposition without being seen - were well behaved.
The Speaker John Bercow didn't interrupt once (he'll be out of a job soon).
Sitting in the press gallery, it was almost eerie.
Mr Corbyn said he would change PMQs and he's succeeded, thanks to questions from members of the public including "Angela who works in mental health" and "Marie from Putney" who is worried about housing.
Labour MPs, still wearing the scars from a bruising campaign, sat quietly.
Chris Leslie, who refused to serve under Mr Corbyn, was as still as a statue throughout.
Mary Creagh, who also resigned from the shadow cabinet, was emotionless as she clutched her phone.
Afterwards, though, even MPs who are not their new leader's biggest cheerleaders said he had done a good job.
Wes Streeting and Jonathan Reynolds said it was a more mature session than usual and tackled issues that mattered to people.
But can it last?
The Labour MP John Mann said MPs had expected the Tom and Jerry show, but got Jeremy Vine instead.
The SNP's Alex Salmond questioned whether it was an effective way of causing damage on Mr Cameron, who wasn't challenged on his answers.
Mr Corbyn might have taken the Punch and Judy show out of PMQs.... But has he taken out the punch as well?

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