"Does the Prime Minister......"

by Kyle Kiang
After a brief hiatus, I caught this week's British House of Commons Prime Minister Question and Answer. Although I have never been more than a novice on the British politics, in the past I tried to tune into Q/A to hear the issues pressed to Tony Blair and to see "lively" parliamentary politics in practice. Although the Q/A format does not usually lend to an intelligent examination of issues, it is entertaining to see the ceremonial back and forth. It is additionally refreshing when compared to the current American presidential race, where the candidates in this year's election have rarely been in situations where they are pressed with criticism and forced to offer direct responses.
"Hard Work" and "I love freedom" in the Commons chamber? I think not.

Several issues came up in this week's Q/A, including pensions, internet safety and hospitals, but events in Iraq continue to weight heavily on Blair. With the recent beheading of Ken Bigley and a report on British pre-war intelligence published last week, the questions on Iraq are pointed directly at the Prime Minister and not the Labour Party. Blair is generally strong in Q/A, using his amazing notebook, which appears to contain any piece of information required to refute criticism for the opposition. Iraq is something entirely else for Blair, and despite the fact that Labour has no plans to immediately challenge his leadership position and that the Conservatives as a party were more supportive of the war, the subject of Iraq will remain a common topic in Q/A, where Blair's notebook provides little assistance and where his own benches provide Blair with ample criticism.

On a more unusual note, Jeremy Corbyn, a Labour back bencher from Islington North, appeared in a bright green jacket, purple shirt and silver tie. Quite unusual in that dress in the House of Commons is usually conservative, similar to the United States Senate. Interesting to know that the House of Commons has its own Jim Traficant. Here, here.