A couple of thoughts on today's Parliamentary session...
First, it's nice to see David Cameron back in the Commons. He's been rather conspicuous by his absence over the last week or so, maybe we're finally going to see some leadership from the man who supposedly leads the country?
Did Nick Clegg ever think that he'd be sitting on the front bench of the government looking so utterly miserable?
Secondly, the Conservatives are getting very partisan about being partisan, aren't they? Louise Mensch stood up there and berated Labour for being so party-political, before personally bringing up Labour's record with regards to Tom Baldwin. David Cameron did the same thing with repeated reference to Damien McBride. Even when denouncing party politics, they just can't resist getting a shot in.
A big hand to Dennis Skinner, who once again took the most direct approach (it was he of course who asked why we can't just chuck Murdoch on a plane and "send him back from whence he came") in asking Cameron to answer whether he had spoken to anyone at News International about the BSkyB takeover. Cameron once again refused to say so; he simply insisted that there had been no "inappropriate" conversations. This was pressed four times by four different Labour MPs, but he stuck to his guns and indeed his rather lame non-denial denial. He couldn't be seen to say "yes", but he certainly made a bit of show of not saying "no". He got a good heckling and looked quite silly for a brief moment, but there was no clear cut soundbite that'll make it onto the news.
And of course the big issue, the Coulson apology...or rather lack of one. Coming into this, he was looking at a lose-lose scenario. He wasn't going to look good whether he apologised or not, so he's obviously decided to court the Tory benches and try to look defiant. Frankly with the Parliamentary recess coming up, he's going to get away with this one regardless. He's not going to come out smelling of roses, but I think Ladbrokes and Paddypower were a ways off when they gave odds of 4 to 1 on his resignation.
