This week is the 50th anniversary of Prime Minister’s Questions. Over the years PMQs has seen many controversial moments and gladiatorial contests – but many argue that it shows the best and the worst of British politics.
I have decided to score the various contests. They are from my own impressions since the Commons was heard (from 1978) and seen (since 1989) and, earlier than that, I have had to judge from other accounts. The below scores are my views alone and are just for fun – and I am only counting the leaders themselves rather than stand-ins.
1961-1963
Harold MacMillan 1-0 Hugh Gaitskell
A far gentler duel than what we are used to now, but old Mac was confident he could hold off Gaitskell's attacks – (hence the introduction of PMQs in the first place).
1963
Harold MacMillan 0-1 Harold Wilson
Gaitskell’s sudden death gave rise to the great debater, Wilson. Just eight months opposite each other was enough to see the confident Harold gain an edge over a government weakened after Profumo and the Long Knives.
1963-1965
Alec Douglas-Home 1-2 Harold Wilson
Harold again confident over a typical old-school Tory. However he did not have everything his own way, Home was able to lead a late spirited Tory fight back.
1965-1975
Ted Heath 3-6 Harold Wilson
A contest lasting ten years – hence the high score as many points were scored. There was great disappointment in Tory ranks at Heath’s early appearances when Wilson easily outmatched him but Ted made some advances at the time of Labour’s troubles in the late 60s. However Heath was never confident at either side during PMQs.
1975-1976
Margaret Thatcher 0-1 Harold Wilson
Like Heath, Mrs Thatcher struggled at first to deal with the slippery Wilson – but they only faced each other for a year.
1976-1980
Margaret Thatcher 2-2 Jim Callaghan
From 1978, the Commons could be heard, and a now confident Mrs T was up against the old warrior James Callaghan. A well-matched contest as both in turn faced economic difficulties as PM.
1980-1983
Margaret Thatcher 3-2 Michael Foot
Michael Foot was a master of the Commons, a ferocious debater, but became leader too late in life. Although he often scored during the difficult times of the early 80s, he was let down by his own party troubles. A post-Falklands Mrs T rapidly grew in confidence.
1983-1990
Margaret Thatcher 6-0 Neil Kinnock
Over seven years, this was a complete mismatch. Mrs Thatcher was full of confidence and dominated the Commons in the mid-to-late 1980s, and Neil Kinnock just could not compete. Even open goals such as Westlands were missed.
1990-1992
John Major 0-0 Neil Kinnock
A bore draw. John Major had little of Mrs T’s dominance and both sides were just marking time until the election.
1992-1994
John Major 1-2 John Smith
Major now with his own mandate and more confident but bested by the former QC who sadly died too early.
1994-1997
John Major 0-3 Tony Blair
The start of the unstoppable force. John Major was often weakened by revolts from his own side while Blair and the confident ‘New Labour’ party began to dominate.
1997-2001
William Hague 3-3 Tony Blair
Blair was now a confident PM with a huge majority but Hague was able to match him all the way – this was an excellent contest.
2001-2003
Ian Duncan-Smith 0-3 Tony Blair
Oh dear oh dear. The quiet man unable to cope as Blair regularly won the day.
2003-2005
Michael Howard 1-1 Tony Blair
After the invasion of Iraq, Blair looked as if he could be on the ropes but Howard’s support for the invasion weakened his position. The two leaders looked too alike in a quiet contest.
2005-2007
David Cameron 2-2 Tony Blair
The fifth opponent for Tony Blair became his most formidable. Best known for his opening line ‘you were the future once’, Cameron looked confident – but Blair still able to defend himself.
2007-2010
David Cameron 4-1 Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown, at last the PM, started well, and had his ‘Brown bounce’ as Cameron suffered a lack of confidence. However as the troubles began, Brown struggled and Cameron triumphed regularly.
2010-
David Cameron 1-0 Ed Miliband
This match has only just started but Cameron has won the opening exchanges. However at the time of typing, Ed has the ball in his opponent’s penalty area. Will he be able to hit the back of the net?
Concluding, the most effective at PMQs that I have seen is Tony Blair, who saw off a succession of opposition leaders and always maintained his confidence. Margaret Thatcher, like Blair, was able to dominate the Commons but she was fortunate that, for much of her premiership, she was facing Neil Kinnock. As for Harold Wilson, this relies on the accounts of others, but most testify that he was formidable at one-to-one debating in the bear pit of British parliament.
But, as I said, this is just my opinion. What do you think?
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