via Mike Smithson at PB.com
According to a report in the Independent yesterday Gordon Brown is telling friends that the public is being increasingly repelled by PMQs and that the Commons exchanges are now of little use in discussing the issues of the day. He’s reported as saying that “nothing prepares you” for the ferocity of a packed chamber in full cry” and that the weekly event is worse than it has ever been.Tony Blair was a PMQ master, complete with his 'plastic fantastic' tabulated folder. If the answer didn't happen to be there, he just batted it off or made reference to the Tories' time in London. Brown's eyesight makes it difficult for him to use the same folder system, and maybe he isn't completely comfortable with the opposition benches vocally baying for his blood on a weekly basis.
However, if Westminster is the Mother of all parliaments, and the UK the greatest democracy, then the least that can be expected is vocal opposition in a healthy debate over the country. PMQ is also one of the few times that the Lib Dems and Tories can get traction on issues, such as the consistent Northern Rock question from David Cameron in the last couple of weeks. It can backfire though, as a PM on fire can really give heart to his MPs before they go home to their constituenties.
Although with the polls giving him a landslide loss, you could be forgiven for not wishing to front.
Update:
Here's a snippet of the "packed chamber at full cry".
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