PMQs: More spinned against?

Wednesday, 7 May 2008 12:00 AM

The first PMQs after disastrous local elections was always going to be tough for Gordon Brown, but the prime minister was far from at a loss at the dispatch box.

Unfunded tax plans, limited policies, "slick salesmanship" - it was the same old accusations fired at the Conservatives by the prime minister.

He appears to have his sights set on another, much bigger, electoral test, with talk of a "choice" for voters between what he claims is a Labour party which delivers real change and a Conservative alternative lacking "substance".

Despite being far from his scathing best, as seen two weeks ago amid the 10p income tax U-turn, David Cameron pointed out voters' choice was shown very clearly in ballot papers up and down the country last Thursday night.

The Tory leader did not press the point home, however, instead turning the attack on to his pre-prepared territory.

Accusing Mr Brown, as he has done repeatedly in recent weeks, of being as obsessed by public image and 'spin' as his predecessor Tony Blair is certainly proving an interesting tactic.

Of course the prime minister and his supporters were left spluttering with rage at the cheek of such allegations coming from the media-conscious Mr Cameron, derided in today's session by the prime minister for his "slick salesmanship".

But there is no doubt the Tory leader came up with the better lines on the issue. Mental images of Mr Brown "waiting for Shakira to call" or on American Idol "with more makeup on than Barbara Cartland" won't go away in a hurry.

By constantly pressing the "PR" aspect of Mr Brown's premiership the Conservatives cast doubt into the mind of the voter - and the result is today's standoff.

As a subtext, Mr Cameron happily played upon the prime minister's own weakening standing in the leadership stakes. Comments from Scottish leader Wendy Alexander and former home secretary Charles Clarke, together with the May 1st results and the ongoing 10p fallout, left Mr Cameron happily concluding "the prime minister is losing touch with reality".

In response Mr Brown expanded on a tactic used in last week's PMQs on pre-charge detention, chiding the Tories for not following government policy.

But his bottom line remained, as it has been almost since he took office, a fallback on the government's past record.

"The choice in this country is between a Labour government that delivers and a Conservative government that just talks," he said.

Judging by the local elections showing, it is not clear whether the electorate believes the Labour government has delivered - or whether the Tories are not more spinned against than spinning.

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