So another year another PMQ, this one most notable for a bizarre change in tact by the Prime Minister that really didn't come off well in my eyes. It also saw Nick Clegg give his first set of questions, but otherwise was a largely tentative and unproductive affair.

The highlight of the session was clearly the exchange by Cameron with Brown. Starting, with a few jabs at the Lib Dem preceding it, with the perenial Lib Dem issue of identity cards Cameron was quick to pounce on the confusion the Brown has caused recently over whether or not ID cards will be compulsory. Brown's answer was a stock one, ID cards will be compulsory if the parliament wishes it to be so and they are vital because they are more secure thanks to biometrics. I really shouldn't have to repeat again how stupid this argument is but it seems Labour don't wish to see the truth. When writing to my MP about the issue of Biometrics at the end of the last year, providing a link to Ben Goldacre's excellent article on Bad Science the reply was a party line answer about increasing security and integrity with an afterthought along the lines of "I enjoy the Bad Science blog but haven't read the article yet".

Of course Cameron had to pounced on this and brought up the observer interview where Brown quite clearly said it wouldn't be compulsory. The response to this was wishy washy and an attempt to turn the tables, asking Cameron whether he supported ID cards for foreign nationals. The full weakness of Brown was then shown in Cameron's ability to answer the question pretty succinctly. "I think every member of this house is in favour of ID cards for foreign nationals!" he exclaimed, as if it was the most stupid question to ask, certainly to ask a Tory anyway. The result of this is when it turned truly bizarre, once again avoiding a question of his own, Brown turns back to Cameron...looking much more aggressive at the box than he ever has before...and defies belief by trying to ask the same question again about foreign nationals.

I was confused and it certainly looked like Cameron was confused. He had answered that question quite clearly, and so responded that he had indeed answered the question. Obviously not wanting to waste his time he then moved on to economy issues...a waste of time really given Brown is the master at dredging up the same old statistics about the same *old* government, yet even more bizarrely, if that were even possible, Brown tries to once again ask about the foreign nationals implying that Cameron hasn't got an answer. Is Brown really so weak and so worried that he has to try and invent up flaws in his opposition, flaws which so graciously mirror his own, even though anyone with any sense can see that he is talking utter nonsense?

The exchange ended, it was raucous overall and highly charged, but Cameron clearly came out the winner of the battle, even if he hadn't knocked Brown out. When a prime minister has to keep resorting to old news to make his points it really shows a lack of imagination and ability to debate aggressively. To me it has now got to the point where pointing out that Cameron was involved in Black Wednesday is tantamount to kids in online "discussions" calling the other side a Nazi in an attempt to kill the argument in their favour. It's not a real point, it's just something that scores a few cheap shots that make him look like an immature child. But then I guess thinking on his feet is not his forte...even after the relaunch of his campaign, a term that will now no doubt be truly adopted now that Cameron has issued it as such.

As for Clegg, he went for the sfe route today I feel. Bringing up the issue of family expenses and in particular the fuel price rises, he asked the Prime Minister if he was going to do more than just write a letter to the companies. Cue stock answer, again. What is interesting though is that it is clear that either Brown wanted to avoid copying Cameron in his jibes about the Lib Dem leadership, or otherwise he is so truly worried about his parties position that he is less willing to battle the Lib Dem's at the same time as the Tories...the man didn't raise one offensive or snide comment against the third party.

The two best questions, however, were from lowly normal MP's. The first, by an MP whom I didn't hear the name, was about disabled poverty...about the 50% of disabled people out of work and the children of those people living in poverty. Even though the MP was labour the PM still managed to not answer the question. He used it as a chance to talk about the new deal and how the Tories would abolish it (I've not heard this before, but if it's true the Tories struck dumb with that one) and to generally reminisce, one of Gordon's favourite pass times it seems. What of these disabled people and what the government is going to do for them now? Well either the answer was entirely avoided, or worse the answer was that the systems are in place, suggesting that he feels they've done all they can. I seriously hope it was the former.

The final good question was Steve-does-he-exist-or-not Webb, following up on Nick Clegg's groundwork. He wondered how it is that the government can claim to be really helping the poor and aged of this country when fuel bills have risen by around £300 for them, which all but nullifies the winter fuel payments the government gives them. The Prime Minister could only state how much his government (well the last one anyway) has risen the amount paid, but did pretty much confirm that the effect of the fuel payments is to essentially set them back at the level they were a few years ago. Given the rising costs of other areas of living and that winter fuel payments were given to help keep those in danger of ill health due to cold keep the heating on I don't understand how Brown can be so brisk with the subject in such a way as to confirm that these people are essentially in exactly the same economic position they were a few years ago, a position which had prompted the payments in the first place yet are now seemingly not going to rise any more.

Overall Brown came off looking like he always does, a clumsy child with a poor grasp of debate, while Cameron certainly looked more lithe in the discussions and responded much better to attacks. Clegg...well he did well for a first go but he didn't really make an impact, though how much of that is because Brown didn't walk in to a trap we'll never know