Insta-sketch: Brown and Cameron square up at PMQs

Faster than a government U-turn, Ann Treneman has already insta-sketched today at PMQs

Gordon Brown went on the attack today as only he can when he is, actually, doing the most spectacular climbdown.

It was he, as Chancellor, who announced that he would scrap the 10p tax rate to whoops of joy from his backbenchers in March 2007. How long ago that must seem! It has taken a sustained revolt by Labour backbenchers, lead by maverick Frank Field, who has loved every moment of his time in the limelight, to get Gordon to promise to take action.

Of course he never actually said he was wrong yesterday. He never said he was sorry. He never even admitted that anyone would actually lose out from the scrapping of the 10p rate. Instead he indulged in an almost shameless amount of bragging about how much he had helped people out of poverty. God knows what the poor people watching thought of it but, in the Chamber, it was enough for Labour members.

David Cameron, though, was on top scathing form. At every attack, Gordon smiled his weird stretchy lips smile. It got bigger and bigger. Who won? One hopes the poor, at least.

Comments

[bill]

Brown will be remembered as the 10p Chancellor!