Cameron - surprisingly ineffective

You have to give it to him, you really do. David Cameron during Prime Ministers Questions is an effective politician. His combination of theatrical timing, oratory pace and agility of thought are a dangerous combination. He is as good as Blair was in 1996 when he reduced Major to bumbling manikin. And, there are hints of the cutting tongue that Thatcher used to silent semi-inebriated backbenchers during her ascent to the top of the Conservative Party. However, with all of this Cameron, time after time, fails to land a crushing blow.

This may be in part because Brown has worked on his defence and now hits harder with more concise rebuttals. It may also be that when he speaks many in his party feel uncomfortable with what is said. Or, it could be that Cameron is not yet at his best. But I think, his failure to score hard hitting body shots is not because of any of these things. It is because hypocrisy is easy to sense and arguing what you know to be wrong is hard to do.

Today's toe-to-toe in the house of commons was a prime example: Cameron tries to highlight that services being provided by the government are ineffectual and functioning poorly. Brown points out that these services would be cut if the Torys had their way. Cameron moves on, saying that the UK is in the worst shape of any of the major economies. This is wrong, we are not. Cameron finds himself bogged down in a debate on when the recession started; he is off by 3 months and loosing his pace. And, finally he lashes out with a personal insult towards the PM and his rhythm is gone.

Elections can be won by pointing out the faults of an existing administraion. But that is clearly not working for Cameron. With 2 million unemployed and downturn continuing you would expect a government to being polling support in the low twenty's, but Labour isn't. The cabinet is still speaking with one voice and grassroot campaigning is still continuing. A poll in the Guardian today shows that a stabilisation of the economy would lead to a change in the fortunes of Brown and Labour. And what will Cameron do then. What will Cameron do when the bailout works, when spending during the downturn is shown to be the right thing and when hope returns. He will need more than oratory power and good PR, he will need practical solutions. Solutions he doesn't have.