Wednesday 27 April 2011

Message to the Labour Party over PM's remarks: Calm down, dear

There seems to be a massive overreaction to David Cameron telling shadow chief secretary to the Treasury to "calm down dear".

Labour sources have apparently called the remarks sexist and patronising. OK, so perhaps the PM had no need to give that impression, but his jibe was no more than a light-hearted reference to the Michael Winner insurance advert. Ms Eagle was being particularly annoying, too - the video of the incident makes clear the shrill barracking that she was engaging in while Cameron was trying to speak.

This is Prime Minister's Questions, after all - it's not surprising he was frustrated with her unneccessary and frankly rude efforts at undermining Cameron's answers.

The PM has been noted in the past to have a genial and polite manner in his dealings with MPs' questions, including those on the opposition benches. He has not given the impression of being a bully (unlike his predecessor in Downing Street, perhaps), and today's outburst was simply him snapping in response to uncalled for heckling.

If the Labour Party attempts to make political capital out of this throwaway comment, it will say more about them than the PM (although, in fairness, Ms Eagle has not demanded an apology herself).

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