Today's Prime Ministers Questions featured some important matters of course...banking and bonus culture, reform of the NHS...As is most often the case however, the motivation for questions and answers is party politics and tactics - trying to get your opponent on the back foot. Very serious, highly topical matters that should be raised often dont get a look in.
No MP let alone Labour Leader Ed Miliband, asked about policy on Afghanistan despite the fact that overnight it was reported that a
'secret Nato report seen by the BBC suggests the Taliban in Afghanistan are being directly helped by the Pakistani security service (ISI).' (see full report and links to others
here).
This is a matter of life and death to our service personnel and Pakistan is supposed to be an ally.
Also no questions on the ongoing, unresolved economic crisis in Greece that could have widespread ramifications and where
'problems are as bad as ever.' (see
here). Nothing on the prospect of famine in West Africa (
here)...Ok, there is limited time and there are many serious issues that could be asked about - but there is a definite pattern to PMQs that severely narrows the topics chosen and the style and quality of debate.
Urgent action is needed to stop
drought in West Africa's Sahel region turning into a humanitarian disaster
affecting 13 million people, Oxfam says.
