At PMQs David Cameron reminded us once again why he's so impossible to like
The PM's temper let him down, but it’s his lack of ability that is most profound
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David Cameron is a curious politician. He’s the sort of guy you just can’t quite bring yourself to like. At times he appears reasonable, modest, funny and even statesmanlike. You could start to convince yourself that he’s alright. It’s usually at that point that he will go and ruin it – just like he did at today's Prime Minister’s Questions.
After being questioned about recent job losses across the UK steel industry, the PM unleashed his temper and told Labour MPs not to give him a "self-righteous lecture". The worst part of his response however wasn't his uncontrolled anger, but his inability to look like he could actually do anything to help the steel workers being affected.
It's impossible to know precisely why Cameron chose to be so aggressive on this particular subject, but I get the impression he’s not keen on the Corbyn-era PMQs, and prefers a bit of a dust-down. This is fine, but he should choose his battles more carefully. People enjoy a bit of passion. But aggression is repellent to most of us, especially when it appears unjustified and disproportionate.
All this behaviour does is reinforce negative perceptions about his character he’s had to battle his whole career. Perceptions that have been countered, in part, by carefully constructed photo opportunities. Which begs another question. If Cameron and Osborne love a hard hat and a high vis jacket so much, where have they been this week? They should have had the courage to visit some of the steelworks personally, demonstrated visually that they were doing all they could to save these jobs. Of course there might be heckling from opposition MPs during the next PMQs. But the country would be left with an impression, perhaps even shared by some of the steelworkers themselves, that “I didn’t expect them to do that. Good on them for trying”.
A competent Prime Minister would have seen the Tax Credits fiasco coming and found a political way to reverse the policy. He didn’t and he hasn’t.
Maybe that’s expecting too much, but it says a lot about the level of desperation some of us moderates are facing when we start hoping that the Tories might genuinely govern from the centre. That, as well as a belief that Labour will win in 2020, are sadly vain hopes.
Cameron's temper let him down today, but it’s his lack of ability that is most profound. The most damaging impression Cameron gives of himself is of incompetence. A competent Prime Minister would have seen the Tax Credits fiasco coming and found a political way to reverse the policy. He didn’t and he hasn’t. A talented communicator would have visited the steelworks and lead the discussion. He’s done neither. A strategic Prime Minister who wants to save the steel industry (and see a way to further claim the centre ground from Labour) would have found a rescue package. He hasn’t.
Therein lies the fundamental problem with David Cameron. He doesn’t look bothered and even if he was, he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
Matt Forde is a comedian and broadcaster. He is currently on tour with his new show 'Get The Political Party Started'. For more information and tickets go to: mattforde.com/live
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