Once again, Cameron hammered on the issue of “security”, and a bunch of other Conservative MPs made statements purely designed to bash Corbyn and his shadow Cabinet regarding Trident, the defence budget, McDonnell’s IRA comments and the issue of security.
Their “questions” amount to no more than “Hey, you know that thing Labour opposes? We support it, yeah? That’s pretty great, eh? We really are fab”. This kind of point-scoring in no way benefits the electorate and takes time away from real questions that are asked and that people will want to know about – e.g. public sector wages, the delay in drug approval for the NHS, and workers rights, which were also briefly discussed today. It is genuinely shameful that the Conservatives spend this time regurgitating their views and picking on Labour in the guise of questions. Whatever you think of Corbyn’s use of the public’s questions, at least they are genuine questions!
See below the cut for quotes.
Julian Knight (Solihull) (Con): In a world in which we have a nuclear North Korea, a rampant and aggressive Russia and the pure evil of the so-called Islamic State, will the Prime Minister agree that, to protect our security and way of life, we simply must have an independent nuclear deterrent?
Cameron: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. In terms of defence, this is the most important duty for a Government and for a Prime Minister. The cornerstone of our defence will remain the 2% spending to which we are committed with the increased defence budget in this Parliament, the membership of NATO and Britain’s own independent nuclear deterrent as the ultimate insurance policy in what is a dangerous world. The fact that the Labour party is turning away from those things is deeply regrettable. National security is the most important thing a Government can deliver and we will never fall short.
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP): The plaques at the entrance door to this Chamber in memory of Airey Neave, Robert Bradford, Ian Gow and Sir Anthony Berry—serving Members of this House who were murdered by terrorists as they stood up for democracy and the British way of life—are a reminder of the savagery and brutality of terrorism, as are the gravestones and the headstones in Northern Ireland and right across this land. The Opposition Leader has appointed a shadow Chancellor who believes that terrorists should be honoured for their bravery. Will the Prime Minister join all of us, from all parts of this House, in denouncing that sentiment and standing with us on behalf of the innocent victims and for the bravery of our armed forces who stood against the terrorists?
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Cameron: From the reaction he has just heard, the right hon. Gentleman will know that he has spoken for many in this House and, I think, the vast majority of people in our country. Airey Neave is the first Member of Parliament I can remember, because he was my Member of Parliament. Ian Gow was one of the first politicians I ever wrote a speech for, and there never was a kinder or gentler public servant in this House. He was cruelly murdered and his family had that life taken away. My view is simple: the terrorism we faced was wrong. It was unjustifiable. The death and the killing was wrong. It was never justified, and people who seek to justify it should be ashamed of themselves.
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Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con): Does the Prime Minister recognise the importance of fairer funding for our schools in Poole and Dorset, and the need for that to be implemented as quickly as possible to ensure a world-class education for our children, including respect for our traditions, and perhaps even learning the importance of our national anthem?
[…]
Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con): Does the Prime Minister agree that this Government’s commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence protects our national and economic future, while giving our 21st century armed forces the moral and financial support they need to protect our nation’s security?
Cameron: We have had to make difficult decisions in the spending review and we will have to make further difficult decisions, but on the decision to increase our defence spending in a very dangerous and uncertain world, when we face threats in Europe with the behaviour of Russia and the threat from ISIL in the middle east, combined with all the other threats, including cyber, it is absolutely right to increase this spending and to make sure that membership of NATO remains the cornerstone of our defence. National security will always be the top priority of this Government.
Corbyn Media Watch 