Yesterday was David Cameron’s first day answering rather than asking Prime Minister’s Questions and with the shootings in Cumbria and recent deaths in Afghanistan, it was a sombre start. For new backbenchers seats are at a premium as the Chamber is so small.
Some of my colleagues queued from 7am. If you are there that early you get to pick any seat you want on the back benches, place a small green “prayer card” on it and leave it there until the Speaker arrives at 2:30 for Prayers. If you are there for prayers, that becomes your seat for the day. I arrived at about 8:30am and placed my prayer card on a seat on the back row.
I always thought MPs could just stand up and ask a question, but that is not how it works. The Leader of the Opposition gets to ask six questions. Other MPs had entered their names in a ballot over a week ago, and there is a “Shuffle” to pick the order in which questions can be asked of the Prime Minister.
However, in rare circumstances, you can ask an unscheduled question. In the case of Karen Bradley, the new MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, the case of her constituent was one of the day’s top news stories. She was therefore able to contact the Speaker first thing this morning and during PMQs she was able to catch his eye again and could ask the Prime Minister about her constituent’s case.
It just goes to show how the rituals of Prime Minister’s Question’s can be used effectively by a new backbencher to raise vital local issues.
( 6 comments ) Tags: David Cameron, Leader of the Opposition, PMQs, Prime Minister, Speaker
Comment by Valerie Daggatt on June 3, 2010 at 3:42 pm
I found your item on PMQ time extremely interesting. It’s the first time I’ve heard about the organisation within the house on such occasions and I certainly imagined that anyone could stand up to put a question … or whatever, Thanks for sharing.
Valerie of Sutton Coldfield.
Comment by John Smith on June 6, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Yes, another source of info on tjhe workings of the House are Jeffery Archer’s books. Let’s hope we get more snippets into the workings of the House from other MPs.
I sense a sense of wonder or awe in the new intake of MPs. Hope they don’t get jaded too soon.
Comment by Maxien Fisher on June 7, 2010 at 3:37 pm
My question to Mr Cameron is what are you going to do about helping get people back into work?
i am a single mother and mature student who has been looking for work since Feburary. i have posted endless CVs, filled out hundreds of applications both online and on paper with no luck. At one point my local Mcdonals restaurant told me i wasn’t even eligable to work in teh UK so was unable to offer me a job. I corrected them on this but have still be rejected 3 times by them.
I have been out of work for more than 5 years so most employers won’t even concider me. I have been rejected for work simply because i do not live in the local area even though i explained i live no more than 10 minutes away and that i drive.
Currently i am in debt and rent arrears because i cannot find a job. what are you going to do about this?
Comment by Geoff Watkins on June 8, 2010 at 10:20 am
It would be very interesting to find out how many of the protestors arrested in Israel , who were sent back to the UK were on benefits . Watching “Points West” the 2 men were adamant they were going back again ASP .Could someone look into this please .
Comment by Malcolm Povey on June 9, 2010 at 11:31 am
I also found this blog very interesting. I know that our MP`s are very busy people at the moment trying to sort out the mess that the “other lot” left us in, but it may be of interest if, when time alows, some more new members could give an insight into other day to day tasks and comment on if the job is what they expected
Comment by Carolyne Downer-Smith on June 11, 2010 at 7:43 pm
I am very pleased that these two parties have risen to this new challenge. It is an opportunity to show that political parties can work together PROVIDED they have a transparently agreed programme based on principles rather than personalities. This could be the beginning of exciting times – just wish I was still involved in this area of work having spent many happy years working with the former Attorney General, Nicholas Lyell.