PMQs: A new year but no answers from Gordon Brown (06Jan10)

[ramsayno9]

...what politicians should do is focus on creating decent, stable, secure jobs that pay a proper wage and give people a decent standard of living then people will feel less tempted to try to cheat the system.

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ramsayno9 Agreed. This is common sense. Unfortunately the criteria for being a politician requires that no common sense is present in the applicant. Any trace of it is detectable and candidates are automatically rejected if found to possess such a characteristic.

[ramsayno9]

Under Labour, people had to hand in a doctor's note to prove that they were unfit to work. A lot of the stuff written about Labour being generous to "scroungers" is misleading. I am not saying that the system was perfect though. However I dont think the solution is to be as nasty as possible to people on benefits as if you take their money away from them, they could revert to crime to survive...

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ramsayno9 I don't feel being as nasty as possible is the answer either, I know we don't see eye to eye on this and had some exchanges last year but I think you should look at this with a more open mind. It's fair to say that the tories basically "inherited" this problem from Labour, they didn't create it in the short time they've been in power. Labour created the problem and the co/al is trying to sort it out, ok maybe we don't agree with the method, but something being done is better than nowt

[ramsayno9]

I wasnt defending Labour. Im a big critic of a number of their policies. However after seeing the way the Tories behave towards people who depend on welfare particularly the disabled, students from working and middle class backgrounds who want to get on in life and public sector workers labelling their pensions "gold-plated" when in reality the average one is around £5,000 to £7,000 a year, while City fatcats get pensions worth £3,5,10million, I'm glad I didnt vote for those heartless scumbags!

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ramsayno9 I really can't see any sane person objecting to those who truly are dependant on welfare receiving it. I certainly don't object. But look at what we discovered just last week - 9 out of 10 people claiming "disability allowance" are actually fit to work, most of us know of someone who is "on the sick" that shouldn't be so I have no problem believing that figure. Don't you agree this needs to be tackled? It's your money that's paying for them too......

[ramsayno9]

@MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER well take some time out to look behind the headlines about people on disbalitly allowance being fit to work. The government pay a French business called Atos to do the tests. They are not given proper medical tests by a doctor. All that happens is that they check to see if people can do a few basic tasks then declare them fit to work. It is a farce! There a lot of people out there that may look physically OK but suffer from mental health issues which is often ignored.

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ramsayno9 Ok so the testing system needs attention, granted. I'm sure there is some form of appeal process that any deemed fit to work that really aren't fit to work can mount. Mental health issues do not negate, in many cases, someone from doing some sort of job. There are companies who employ only those with disabilities (mental included) - I deal with such people on a semi-regular basis. There ARE solutions, the answer is NOT to hand out benefits for anyone who says "I don't feel well"

[carlberg34]

It's a moot point now, but how any of you plastic champagne drinking Socialist muppets ever believed in Brown is, well, comical. You were misled. You can be excused now - time to watch and the UK grow and become Great again. As is always. Look back in history and you will see how Tory policies ALWAYS bring the UK back to normality after Labour overspend.

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@carlberg34 Hip Hip! HOORAY!

[13olibrown]

Well done Mr Cameron.

[kkwillsaveus]

IMF are backing the Tories now and deficit reduction, yet Labour claim they aren't a credible source, hypocrites.

[MichaelAntonian]

It is funny how genuine I find David Cameron to be. He really is the guy who wants the change and he is the guy who will do the change. Go Tory party!

[TheBashed9]

cameron dosent seem right for the job but hes all we got

[segano1]

Im not exactly fond of David Cameron at the moment,

but agreed, I think a change in government is for the best

[ramsayno9]

The more I watch Cameron, the more convinced I am of what a disaster he would be if he became PM.

[YoungWelshman]

@ramsayno9 Hear hear

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ramsayno9

Sure, go vote labour then. Watch the taxes skyrocket as they have for the last 13 years. Stop off to get your petrol at £1.20 odd a litre. Work hard all day so that workshy layabouts and fucking immigrants can have a 5 bedroom house and Sky TV. Sit back and marvel at single mums RAKING in benefits because shitting out a baby is "a full time job" that every hard working sod in the country has to fund just because she can't keep her legs closed. Idiot.

[ramsayno9]

@MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER Who would you rather have the government help? The most vulnerable in society such as pensioners, people too sick to work, single mums, low income families with tax credits and immigrants escaping a life of unbearable poverty or the top 5-6% wealthiest people in the country. As for petrol prices the government does not set them, it is valued in dollars and goes up in price when there is higher global demand. You bugger off you right wing prick!

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ramsayno9

You are clearly in cloud cuckoo land. How does Labour help pensioners? Hundreds of them DIE through hypothermia EVERY winter, while your bum chum Brown spends fucking BILLIONS on OVERSEAS aid. The Government SETS the rate of TAX on fuel, and 75% of the price YOU pay at the pump IS FUCKING TAX. Shut the fuck up till you get a clue you fucking lefty RETARD.

[ramsayno9]

@MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER have you heard of the winter fuel allowance, free bus passes, free TV lincenses, free eye test for pensioners Brown introduced as chancellor as well as the national minimum wage, child tax credits, child trust funds, education maintenance allowance, paternity leave, maternity pay, the social chapter that allows working people 28 days paid holiday per year etc.

[ramsayno9]

@MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER when the tories hike up VAT and sack 100,000s of public secor workers on ordinary people while their rich, powerful chums i.e Murdoch, Ashcroft are getting favours to benefit them, then you will see who is living in cloud cuckoo land you fucking jackass

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ramsayno9

lmao poor deluded soul! I happen to WORK in the PUBLIC SECTOR!!!! Good! Sack the thousands of fuckers sat behind desks doing shit all all day, all they do is push paper around and make work for each other anyway. Wanker.

[ramsayno9]

@MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER after over a year after the Tories have been in power, the economy has only grown by 0.2% over the last nine months, inflation at over 4%, average real incomes fell at the fastest rate in over 30 years, fuel at £1.40 a litre, tuition fees trebled, EMA scrapped which makes it harder for working class kids to get on in life and cuts to public sector pensions to pave the way for their profit hungry big business friends to make billions off the state. I hope that you feel content!

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ramsayno9 Lol typical lefty berk. Right apart from that, all nastiness and jibing aside, do you seriously think Labour would be doing any better? Look at how long they were in power for - what did you observe during that time? Everything went UP UP UP. Yes, fuel is ridiculously expensive, do you recall the price when the Coalition came into power? Did good ol Mr Brown have it at 20p a litre for you and then the nasty tories went and slapped over a quid on top? NO.

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ramsayno9 Also - why are you bringing fuel prices into it? Your other post says "The Government does not set them, it is valued in dollars and goes up in price when there is higher global demand" - since you clearly can't make up your mind and have no idea what you're talking about, wouldn't it be best to just sit quietly and hope your beloved Labour party gets re-elected?

[ajax123123]

@MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER There are other alternatives to conservative -_-'

[MrSDSTRIKEBREAKER]

@ajax123123 Such as? Of course you're right, there are other parties, but what's the point in voting for them? They have Bob Hope of winning any election. What do you suggest? The Green Party? Realistically, you have two choices - Labour or Conservative, you can throw in a bit of Lib Dem if you want but they're not really much competition - anything other than Lab/Conserv is a wasted vote.

[liarpoliticians]

@dandoman01 Cameron is not perfect, but a change IS needed, New Labour have trashed the UK in all sorts of ways. We need someone that can get the UK back from where it is now, New Labour will just give more of the same UK hating (specifically English hating) medicine.

[YoungWelshman]

There is going to be cuts, but not in the middle of a recovery

[tonightwefly]

@liarpoliticians hahahahahahaha

[shabbadabdaba]

Gordon dodges questions and has no answers????

Cameron isn't capable of asking a logical question and on the odd occation he asks a remotely relavent question, Brown answers and then Cameron just asks it again dressed up in another smarmy comment.

[archiestaffie666]

These lot are a bunch of vogons.... I'll explain..... Vogons are one of the most unpleasant races in the galaxy. Not actually evil, but bad-tempered, bureaucratic, officious and callous. They wouldn't even lift a finger to save their own grandmothers from the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal without orders signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, queried, lost, found, subjected to public inquiry, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat for three months and recycled as firelighters.

[LCPython]

Completely Unpolitical, but those 2 ladies which keep nodding either side of Cameron keep reminding me of those Churchill Dog Toys.

[stoogepenguin]

"The tories must be bad.."

THE MUST BE TERRIBLE IF THEY CAN'T GET THIS IDIOT OUT! Gordon is following a scorched earth policy. Destroying the UK economy before his is booted out. Mr Brown is shaking with fear, I'm surprised his cabinet aren't laughing their heads off at Brown along with the Tories!!

[weatherallc05]

i am sorry but this debate was a win for labour, because gordon brown managed to pounce on camerons gaps.

[weatherallc05]

the tories care about rich people! labour care about just about everyone, so you choose which is better. can i confirm aswell, i am neutral and only 16 but i have got a valid opinion on this. When i can vote, i will vote for the most merited party, and not the one who doesnt convince me.

[kcupriest]

The Tories are pathetic.....go  Gordon!

[luvdupraver]

This is great theatre

But it is also Punch & Judy politics at its very worst.

What did this debate achieve, apart from getting a few cheers from some personal jibes?

Did it help the country?

No, they were just bellowing at each other. I am not interested in a leader who only knows how to shout and how to attack.

Utterly pointless, puerile stuff.

[AAAAARRRGGGHHH]

HAHAHAHAHA 9:09 camerons little doves mouthing "not one...not one"...makes me cringe.

cant say i like any of them. lib dems the way forward

[codownni]

@AAAAARRRGGGHHH Your joking? UKIP is the only way forward. we have to get out of this Soviet revival.

[AAAAARRRGGGHHH]

UKIP???

UKIP are just a bunch of rednecks who cal themselves politicians, but dont appreciate that politics requires compromise and cooperation.

I mean get real, this is the 21st century, rarely has the world been a more complex place, and isolation oneself is definately not the correct reaction to that

[stoogepenguin]

Exactly what it is. Soviet revival. Sickening.

[codownni]

Ukip are the only party who would serve Briatin as a soverighn nation. The Lib,Lab,Cons are all tied into the E.U trap, Of all of the three main partys the Lib's arnt even in this election. Should never have got rid of CK.

[stevenoc]

All cameron does is shitty jokes, crappy soundbites and looks like a total smug git. Go Gordon!

[weatherallc05]

stevenoc, my first question is, is that a biased point. in other words are you labour supporting, or is that your most honest opinion. i will say though i have to agree with it

[kcupriest]

The two hags either side of cameron aren't doing him any favours....

[robmartin337]

two crows,,,, sorry vultures,,,,, model themselves on Maggie Milk Snatcher Thatcher

[Kewen]

The utterly vapid Cammeron producing soundbites instead of policies, as usual.

[autumndemon789]

great pmq's

[DystopianUtopia]

All Brown can do to respond to these serious flaws in his logic from Cameron is critisize him back. I don't like Cameron either, but I hate you more Mr Brown. Can you actually respond to anything, or just carry on with your stupid bickering? These are questions I want answering, Cameron is not in power yet, so you had better start thinking about your own leadership before you critisize anyone else's.

[MrHiderN]

Fast forward to 07:30 for Brown's great putdown of the lightweight Old Etonian schoolboy who currently leads the Tories.

[rpswater]

of course brown cares thats why his consantly spending and putting this country into worse debt. my child and my childs child will have to pay for this debt because of the twat in the head chair. and by the way look at darling he dont look to convinced does he. new labour? new morons more like

[MrHiderN]

Gordon Brown was the clear victor during yesterday's PMQs. He managed to wipe the smug grin from pompous Cameron's non-airbrushed face. Nice work!

[NewLabour1]

Cameron shows no leadership for his party and cant explain his own views to argue against Labour

VOTE FOR THOSE WHO CARE

VOTE LABOUR

[GrEaTeSt786]

GIVE UP¬!

[BRUTUALTRUTH]

Thanks 4 this. Today no PMQS on Sky News or BBC - but you have,.

Cheers - ;)

[mnts747]

I'm fed up with Gordon Brown spouting out his same crap about how the government needs to spend more money to stimulate "grooth".

If wish he's just leave and take his socialist policies with him already.

[viaductos]

It looks like Brown is practicing for the PMQs when he becomes a member of the opposition, because he seems to be deluded. He's not the one who has to make questions, not to mention that he always answers the same thing.

[coltrane1966]

@AndrewBMcKay I find both parties disgusting, so I won't defend David Cameron.

[mrgoomans]

That was good to watch, Gordon is getting a lot better at this weekly tussle.

[mnts747]

GTFO you fascist thug.

[mrgoomans]

...whatever.....

[BRUTUALTRUTH]

FUCK OFF TOADY!

[mnts747]

Woah, Brown got owned. Not only that, but he's a total wreck. I don't think he can hold on until May, but he'll damn well try.

The sooner we get a Tory government in the better.

[zonianfjb]

Unfortunately, not only can Brown not own anyone, he can't get owned. By that I mean he can't ever admit to being beaten, or to being wrong, even when it is obvious to everyone but him. He won't concede. I hate to think what sort of tantrum he will throw once he is forced out of office.

[tararisser]

He is quite arrogant.....like Obama.

[zonianfjb]

Wow. That was a pretty rubbish comment, it has to be said. You need an incredibly patronising explanation of what Prime Minister's Questions is.

MPs in the House of Commons, including the Leader of the Opposition, are allowed to put questions to the Prime Minister through the Speaker, and the Prime Minister alone is obliged to answer those questions. In other words, David Cameron ASKS, and Gordon Brown is supposed to ANSWER. Not the other way round.

I'm done, but you were asking for that.

[zonianfjb]

Brown is incapable of pwning anyone. I agree that this was one of Brown's better performances, but that isn't saying much. That should be obvious to even the strongest Labour supporters by now.

[coltrane1966]

Gordon Brown is certainly a master at not actually answering anything!

Gordon seems to think that the more you suck out of the economy the better it is for it, a quack with a bleeding bowl springs to mind here!

[xhairsfordemocracy]

So reading in between the lines, does this mean McDoom is being groomed for a slot at the IMF based on the worthless platitudes so readily quoted by the swivel-eyed goon at the despatch box?

mah-mah-mah-mister speaker, what a cunt!