Prime Ministers Question Time

I'm due to ask Gordon Brown a question tomorrow.

Any suggestions?

The comment thread is yours ....

UPDATE:  Thanks for all your suggestions.  Especially to David Cooper, who suggested the topic I went with.

Was that the first crowd sourced PMQs?

Posted on 9 February 2010 by Douglas Carswell

Comments

Will the PM undertake to this House that in the event of Greece paying the ultimate price for its adoption of the Euro, the UK taxpayer will bear no share of the costs of an EU bail out, and if not, why not?

Posted on 9 February 2010 20:42 by David Cooper

This is a simple suggestion that obviously has far more complex implications, however, whats stopping any government from having a "ministry of common sense" that can review policies and procedures throughout government and more importantly the civil service to put right much that is wrong?

Posted on 9 February 2010 20:47 by Richard P Miller

Okay, I'm no politician by any means so perhaps I've worded these 'very' clumsily. However, I am aware that they are contentious but I am looking for that, as are many of us who take an interest in PMQ's. All too often, questions are so sanitised that we the public could give you the cliche answers straight off the bat. Please, please can we have some more people bold enough like Lord Tebbit to tackle head on the main issues of the day?

1. I'd like to know why AV has been proposed.

a) in isolation of any other option, namely PR

b) after 13 years in government

c) at all. The public has not been demanding AV (specifically).

2. When are we going to have a General Election? (I honestly don't understand why this is being asked CONSTANTLY by EVERYBODY in an official capacity rather than to the media or their blog's (with respect Douglas)

3. How many immigrants, over the last 13 years, have entered our armed forces? (This would be an interesting way of asking what types of people have we taken on board. It implies patriotism and I defy any member of the house to throw the racism card - that is no longer where public opinion rests.)

Posted on 9 February 2010 21:03 by Simon

First, don't publish this, his weasels will be watching..

Question: Why are Conservative led councils so much worse off in respect of government funding to provide services than nearby labour led councils?

For example, Havering (which is conservative led), only gets £243.00 per head, whilst Barking and Dagenham get £613.00 per head, Newham gets £868.00 per head, and Hackney gets an astonishing £1,048.00 per head!

Can the prime minister deny that these figures are the result of political bias on his behalf, and that of his party?

Notes...verify figures, rephrase as necessary, feel free to substitute figures from other contrasting councils.

Posted on 9 February 2010 21:28 by Rightwinggit

Can the Prime Minister not see the hypocrisy in him joining the calls to Greece to impliment extreme fiscal austerity when he shies away from similar treatment to the UK deficit?

Posted on 9 February 2010 21:32 by John Whitehead

Does my PMB get debated, or what?

Seriously, If the Prime Minister stands by the speech made by David Miliband about a 'refound referendum, does he not think that this shoud include a question on EU membership?

I leave you to work out the exact wording.... Miliband speech can be found here:

http://www.leftfootforward.org/images/2010/02/David-Miliband-Press-Gallery-speech.pdf

Posted on 9 February 2010 21:43 by WitteringsfromWitney

Any change in the voting system in this country will inevitably have some effect on the outcome of future elections. Which political party or parties does the prime minister think a change of the voting system will favour?

Posted on 9 February 2010 21:48 by Charles Adair

How about:

"Whilst the subject of constitutional reform and democratic renewal is on the Prime Minister's mind, as witnessed by his commitment to a referendum on AV, will the Prime Minister also comment to ending the injustices of the West Lothian question and the democratic deficit inflicted on England and grant the England a referendum on whether it wants a Parliament?"

I'll watch with bated breath...

http://independentengland.blogspot.com

Posted on 9 February 2010 21:49 by dave

During the past week I'm sure the Prime Minister's aides have been able to remind and update him on the subject, so can he now answer the quesion - what about that slush fund?

Posted on 9 February 2010 21:55 by Deborah

ask him how on gods earth he thinks he's going to get away with it.

Posted on 9 February 2010 22:11 by mark

Some good questions here.

Something to with referendums, the EU and AV is defiantly in order.

Posted on 9 February 2010 22:18 by Think This

Does the Prime Minister feel that the police should investigate allegations of treason aimed at Gordon Brown and David Miliband for having signed the Lisbon Treaty?

Posted on 9 February 2010 22:40 by Eric Arthur Blair Got Googled

If it is right to ask the public about voting reform, why was it wrong to give a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty?

Posted on 9 February 2010 22:44 by Robert Eve

Why would the public trust Mr Clegg or Mr Brown to deliver a referendum on anything, following the underhand example of the European Constitution it would be a brave voter who relied on the Lib Lab idea to deliver any promise. We don't need a new voting system that would deliver Lib Dems here there and everywhere, we need an election now and the British people will tell politicians what they want, please credit a few of us with some ability to think!

Posted on 9 February 2010 23:01 by Richard De Gerber

This government has been the biggest constitutional vandal since Lloyd George's ministry; and now it wants to add the icing to the proverbial cake by changing our traditional electoral system -- can Mr. Brown please explain why (italicised) it is he wants to move from FPTP to AV barely months away from a possible crushing defeat at the polls?

Posted on 9 February 2010 23:16 by EJ

"Would the Prime Minister confirm that his newly-discovered zeal for constitutional reform of the voting system will extend to barring from holding the office of Prime Minister any party leader not backed by a popular mandate derived through a general election?"

Posted on 9 February 2010 23:29 by Michael St George

Has the Prime Minister enquired as to if and when his Chief Whip will repay Parliament the £697.65 the Legg Report identified as overclaimed for cleaning costs?

Posted on 9 February 2010 23:32 by Daniel1979

Doesn't matter, he won't answer it anyway.

Posted on 9 February 2010 23:49 by Jon

"The Prime Minister spoke last week of the need to reform the unelected House of Lords. Where, then, does he stand on the recent appointment en bloc of 27 unelected European Commissioners and will he back my proposal to give the British people a referendum on the continuing influence of that unelected body over this democratically-elected chamber?"

Or something like that anyway.

Posted on 10 February 2010 07:30 by Mark M

On the other side of Parliament Square is Great George Street. If he goes down that road and continues along Birdcage Walk to the end, there is a big house with a nice lady. I'm sure she can arrange either banana or Kit-Kat for him. He might like to ask her about disolving Parliament with immediate effect - it would make all those nasty questions go away....

Posted on 10 February 2010 07:34 by Mick Anderson

Does the Prime minister believe that a person who has held the second highest portfolio in government for over ten years can reasonably expect to escape blame for the dire condition of the economy?

Or something like that.

Posted on 10 February 2010 08:05 by APL

Would the Prime Minister confirm the statement made on his behalf in Brighton County Court, that manifesto pledges are not subject to reasonable expectation?

Posted on 10 February 2010 08:41 by BrianSJ

What advise would the prime minister give to our Greek neighbours in order to reduce their huge budget deficit?

Posted on 10 February 2010 09:02 by chris strange

Douglas,
Why not ask him;
"Since the onset of the global financial crisis and subsequent recession, why have you done NOTHING to cut the cost of Government (at all levels)"?
Rgds,
Steve

Posted on 10 February 2010 09:04 by Simply Steve

Why has the PM presided over a situation in which the UK's net public and private debt stands at over 400% of GDP?

Posted on 10 February 2010 09:31 by Josh

Given that Scotland, N.Ireland, and Wales all have a representative assemblies would the PM agree that, out of fairness, England should be like treated?

Posted on 10 February 2010 09:59 by wonderfulforhisage

Ask him to confirm that Britain will not be bailing out other EU countries (like Greece, spain, Portugal) since we have not signed up to monetary union.

Posted on 10 February 2010 10:27 by Rob H

Now seems a good time to ask whether we can have PR, starting with the Lords perhaps.

Posted on 10 February 2010 10:58 by john ratford

"Westinghouse, a company which used to be British owned until the Labour government used the regulatory authority to break British Nuclear, say their AP1000 reactor can be built in 3 years for a cost of £750 million ($1200) if bought in large numbers. This means our entire generating capacity could be doubled for $45 billion. Does the Prime Minister accept these figures & thus accept that only government regulation stands in the way of Britain having unlimited power at 1/4 the present price & that, as China increasing its electricty supply at 15% & its GNP at 11% annually shows, this would allow us rare economic success?"

Article on nuclear - cost goes from $1.8 bn down to $1.2bn. While both main parties officially support nuclear we are now approaching the 4th anniversay of Blair doing this turn, the only thing stopping blackouts is the recession (& vice versa) & not a shovel is anywhere close to being lifted.

Since I don't know Parliamentary ettiquete I don't know if this is to long or if you get a supplementary.

Posted on 10 February 2010 11:09 by Neil Craig

Will the PM confirm that under no circumstances will Britain provide support to Greece and other Euro countries that are in financial trouble

Posted on 10 February 2010 11:23 by Francis

Nice one Douglas!

It's great to know that you take notice of contributors. Just watched you in the chamber, David Cooper's question wasn't it?

Posted on 10 February 2010 12:28 by Simon

From the Beeb: "Tory Douglas Carswell asks whether there were any circumstances under which the UK would subsidise the ailing Greek economy. Mr Brown says there is international support available."

That's not really an answer though, is it? The correct answer would be "Only in the circumstances of the UK being a member of the EU".

Posted on 10 February 2010 12:28 by Ian Bennett

That was cool Douglas! Interactive TV at its best. Classic!
I hope you do this again. Direct Democracy in practice. :D

Posted on 10 February 2010 13:38 by Adam

Thank you Douglas - you flatter me!

Posted on 10 February 2010 13:54 by David Cooper

Perhaps there needs to be a clerk sat at a computer following Twitter, passing questions and comments to MPs as the debate progresses, both in the main chamber and in committee. That way we could get involved in providing input based on responses given, and if the public weren't happy with a ministerial answer, there would be grounds for asking the question again. I assume having a smartphone following Twitter or Facebook is not officially approved when in the chamber?

Posted on 10 February 2010 14:16 by David Hough

I offer my congratulations for an excellent example of genuine direct democracy and using the platform of Prime Minister's Questions in exactly the way it should be used rather than for pure partisan advantage, as is the case with so many questions from both sides of the house.

You even secured only a half-evasive answer - as opposed to a fully evasive answer or having your question completely ignored, which is the usual practice by Mr Brown (witness his response to John Redwood's enquiry about inflation).

I thought the import of Mr Brown's answer was obvious. The UK taxpayer WILL be paying to foot the bill for any Greek bailout - not directly but at second hand through contributions to international funds that will be used for that purpose.

Incidentally, could you explain at some time how the mechanism for calling back benchers at PMQs works ? I had always thought it was a matter for the Speaker's discretion which MPs he called from all those who get to their feet wishing to ask a question. Clearly this cannot be the case as you knew in advance you would be called. Please excuse me if I am showing woeful ignorance and naivete regarding parliamentary procedure.

Posted on 10 February 2010 16:31 by Tim Bennett

There was only one question to ask: will you be leaving the carpets and the curtains?

Posted on 10 February 2010 19:19 by David Filce

Shame it wasn't this week - "Will the Prime Minister join me in applauding the sentencing of 5 terrorists in Australia to terms of up to 28 years imprisonment"

Posted on 15 February 2010 13:04 by HASurvivor

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