Brown deserted

PMQs today, and an increasingly hunted-looking Gordon Brown resorted to making unpleasantly critical comments about David Cameron’s personal appearance.  This may possibly be the highest-risk strategy yet employed by the PM, who is himself – how can I put it charitably? – a few divisions below  the Cary Grant league.

The most entertaining moment came when the Conservative Member for Westbury, Andrew Murrison, asked a short question that tested the Prime Minister’s geopolitical knowledge to destruction:

Dr. Andrew Murrison (Westbury) (Con): What is the Prime Minister’s attitude to the current situation in the western Sahara?

Brown looked startled and completely baffled; that one had come well out of left field.  Western Sahara?  He knew there was a lot of sand there, and probably a few camels, but further than that…

Uncertainly, and to goading cries of “Answer!” he rose to his feet.  There was no hope of making a dash for it, so he stammered:

The Prime Minister: I am thinking of all the issues that the hon. Gentleman wishes me to talk about in relation to the western Sahara. (Come on, give me a break; it’s been a dreadful week.)

The one thing that I have been worried about is the growth of ethnic violence in these areas. The one thing that we have tried to do is increase—indeed, double—our aid to these areas, and the one thing that we have been worried about is the growth of terrorist groups in these areas. (That’s actually three things, but at least I’ve remembered it’s a dodgy area of the world and that there may have been a spot of bother there.)

That is why we are taking the action that is necessary to dissuade people from terrorism. (On balance, as I’m sure you’ll agree, a better policy than encouraging them.)

I have had numerous conversations with leaders in these areas. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to direct me to a specific point, I will take it up. (Do you think anyone noticed that I hadn’t the foggiest idea what I was talking about?)

Sorry, Gordon, but actually I think they did.