Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn used the majority of his questions to the Prime Minister to question the Government's handling of the junior doctors' strike and the subsequent imposition of a contract they have rejected in negotiations on them, as well as the current health of the NHS.
The PM says we need a full 7-day-a-week NHS and the junior doctors are getting a good deal under the current proposal.
— Portcullis (@Portcullis_says) February 24, 2016
Corbyn also used his questions to highlight reports that the Health Secretary misrepresented data on weekend deaths in order to make the case for the junior doctors' contract.
Jeremy Corbyn claims the PM has based his case for a 7-day-NHS on a misinterpretation of evidence.
— Portcullis (@Portcullis_says) February 24, 2016
The PM says there has been a misinterpretation - in fact the figures are worse than first claimed.
— Portcullis (@Portcullis_says) February 24, 2016
But a garbled joke by Corbyn, which attempted to reference Cameron's mother's reported support for a a local anti-austerity petition, together with heckles of "ask your mother" from Labour benches, brought out the 'Flashman' side of Cameron and he delivered a swift put-down in response, saying: "I know what my mother would say: put on a proper suit, do your tie up and sing the national anthem."
Heckles of "ask your mother" at the PM following question on NHS/anti-austerity campaign in his constituency #PMQs
— Bellenden (@BellendenLtd) February 24, 2016
The PM pokes fun at Jeremy Corbyn's attire and refusal to sing the national anthem.
— Portcullis (@Portcullis_says) February 24, 2016
Possibly the single best put down I've seen at #pmqs.
— Nick Faith (@nickfaith82) February 24, 2016
But, invoking his own mother's wisdom, Corbyn shot back that his mother would have told him to defend the NHS.
Corbyn handled that well. "My late mother would have said stand up for the principle of a free health service". Rare spontaneity. #PMQs
— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) February 24, 2016
Not a particularly edifying #PMQs for any of the parties involved
— Pagefield (@PagefieldLondon) February 24, 2016
Cameron finishes NHS piece underlining need for a seven-day NHS. Corbyn shows passion on future of NHS. He's more effective unscripted #pmqs
— BM Public Affairs (@BMPubAffairs) February 24, 2016
Not everyone agreed that Corbyn has a style deficit however, and Esquire magazine was quick to tweet to the rescue:
Cameron calling out Corbyn's dress sense at #pmqs? Nonsense - he's a style icon: https://t.co/rByWY5rfVm pic.twitter.com/syeX1r3qnp
— Esquire Magazine (@EsquireUK) February 24, 2016
Next it was SNP leader Angus Robertson's turn to question Cameron and he applauded the settlement agreed for Scotland, which incorporates many of the principles that the Government agreed to following the Scottish referendum.
But in a continuing theme of his, Cameron said Scotland would now have to get on with the business of government, rather than arguing about process with Westminster.
The PM said he was glad the SNP accepted it was a good arrangement. He said now the SNP would have to get on with governing Scotland.
— Portcullis (@Portcullis_says) February 24, 2016
Perhaps politicians were sick of discussing the forthcoming referendum on the EU because nobody mentioned it until the end when Conservative backbencher Owen Paterson questioned the neutrality of the civil service.
Final question from @Owen_PatersonMP who asks about civil service neutrality and the #EUreferendum #PMQs
— PHA Public Affairs (@PHAPolitical) February 24, 2016
PM says ministers can depart from Gov's position, but reiterates that it will officially support remaining in reformed EU #PMQs
— Bellenden (@BellendenLtd) February 24, 2016
According to Brandwatch, there were nearly 9,000 tweets during PMQs, nearly three-quarters of which were from men.
The largest number of tweets related to Cameron's suit and tie jibe to Corbyn and tweets mentioning Cameron were 78 per cent negative, compared with 74 per cent negative for Corbyn.
