Brown sidelines 'theatre' of PMQs
Friday, 6 July 2007 12:00 AM
Gordon Brown has dismissed criticisms of his first performance in prime minister's questions, insisting it is "just a bit of theatre".
Instead the new prime minister said he was focusing on the larger job of running the country and said he had already outlined some of his major policies.
The "feral beast" of the media reacted critically to Mr Brown's first round against David Cameron over the dispatch box.
The Times said Mr Brown was in need of L-plates, while the Daily Mirror asked if he was planning to bore his opponents into submission.
Despite ten years at the Treasury, the former chancellor also bungled when he said he had only been in the job for five days, rather than seven.
But in an interview with ITN, Mr Brown played down the importance of PMQs.
He said: "[Journalists] report it as a bit of theatre and there are a lot of jokes sometimes, but actually what the British people want to know is are you getting on with your job, are you representing their interests."
The prime minister said instead he planned to "get on with the business of change." Already he had addressed security, health and education, he added.
Mr Brown said the union flag above Downing Street, absent during Tony Blair's residence, was there to stay and was a symbol of the "values we hold dear".
He told ITN: " I think it's important that we say, look what we have in common as a country, what unites us, the values that we hold dear - liberty, a sense of civic responsibility each to one another, a belief in fairness to all.
"They are reflected in symbols - the monarchy, Parliament and, of course, the union flag,"
The Sun welcomed Mr Brown's stance on the flag, in a welcome media boost for the new prime minister.
Despite his apparent discomfort in front of the chamber, he had promised to reengage with parliament rather than follow Mr Blair's "sofa-style" of government.
Mr Brown is not the first prime minister to struggle during PMQs.
Mr Blair admitted it was the worst point of his week while Harold Wilson needed a brandy to get through them.
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