Forces of hell unleashed at PMQs

It’s been an interesting week for the PM, with Andrew Rawnsley’s much hyped book serialisation providing snippets of life in No.10 based on "24 carat" sources; the furore that has followed has been rather surprising. 

Helped by the PR disaster that is Christine Pratt who went on a media blitz earlier this week in a clear attempt to promote her now ailing charity, by claiming there has been complaints about bullying from inside No.10 (Helpfully, Taiwanese media have made a CGI reconstruction, which is fast becoming a viral hit).

Fast forward through the media frenzy and we arrive at today, with the election getting closer by the minute, what effect has the bully allegations had on the PM. In short the impact has been minimal, Labour have continued to narrow the Tory lead with today’s Sun/You Gov suggesting the Tories have a mere six point lead. Hung parliament anyone?

Alastair Darling’s revelation that he had the ‘forces of hell’ directed at him by No.10, in the now infamous disagreement he had with the PM over his recession predictions – which turned out to be accurate – provided Cameron with plenty of ammunition for today’s PMQs. 

Leading with the failings in Stafford Hospital, it did not take long for Cameron to claim that openness was not only needed in the NHS but also at the heart of government. His remaining questions concentrated on the briefing against the Chancellor. A notably calm Brown denied and praised Alastair Darling.

Clegg did quite well today recognising that the ‘new’ Labour  election slogan is actually a recycled one, "Last time PM wheeled out Future Fair For All was in 2003. The gap in tax between rich and poor has doubled - hardly fair." He continued, “A Future Fair For All, is not a slogan it’s a warning”

One of more humorous moments of the session came from Mr Speaker, "If the House does not quiet down I will have to ring a helpline myself". Overall, a fiery session which the PM seemed to handle well and eventually win.