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Quoted at PMQs

Nick Robinson | 18:40 UK time, Wednesday, 28 June 2006

Unnerved.

That's the answer to about how I felt when by David Cameron. The Tory Leader - in case you missed it - quoted my out-pouring of frustration written about Gordon Brown's deeply coded support for replacing or upgrading Trident.

It did though lead me to dig deeper as to why the Chancellor came out for Trident in such a curious way. It's an interesting tale. It will, though, I'm afraid have to wait until later - it's turning into a busy day.

Comments

  • 1.
  • At on 28 Jun 2006,
  • Brian Tomkinson, Bolton,UK wrote:

Nick, hope you are not leaned on by the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ as a consequence of this but expect you will be!

  • 2.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • Mark Scott wrote:

I was lucky enogh to be there, and oddly enough, as soon as Cameron mentioned you, Blair made a very strange swiping hand movement, as if swatting away an annoying gadfly! I didn't see you in the press gallery - is it only print journalists who turn up? The house was remarkably rowdy today, from your quote onwards, and the 'Democracy for China' activists I was escorting were rather shocked by the behavior, despite my assurances it was simply 'democracy in action'! Noticably, neither Reid, Prescott or Brown turned up, but Prezza had the cheek to head straight to the canteen afterwards, despite his skive. A spot of tactical cowardice by Labour, perhaps?

  • 3.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

Good to see you've been mentioned in despatches, Nick.

But, you know what they say about news reporters who become the news themselves...

  • 4.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • Pat wrote:

It's an interesting tale. It will, though, I'm afraid have to wait until later - it's turning into a busy day.

Sounds interesting.. today's a new day, tell all!

  • 5.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • Gary Elsby stoke-on-trent wrote:

Gordon is pre-empting the meeting that Tony has with Rupert in the USA and Rupert's apparent dislike of Gordon.

Trident tells a powerful story to any US Brown worriers.

A clever shot, if you ask me.

Gordon would be two sets up if he played at the centre court today and taking the left out in the process.
Superb politics.
Gary

  • 6.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

Nick

Did I mishear your turn on the 10 last night or did you manage, when listing the options open to the government in dealing with the terror suspects, not to mention the obvious solution of putting them on trial?

  • 7.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • Diana wrote:

Don't be put off by being quoted, Nick. So what if they are (quoting you)? You are doing an excellent job because YOU CAN see the wood for the trees. The parties are clearly reading your blog - I'd be surprised if they weren't - and some are no doubt contributing in various guises too. Not a bad thing at all - if it makes them argue out their positions more honestly and convincingly.

  • 8.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • Nick Thornsby wrote:

Well famous at last Nick- next time we see a big Tory comment you never know it might well be big Dave C under an alias- hope you don't get too big headed now after all this- anyway why was it a busy day??!!

  • 9.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • leigh wrote:

Gordon Brown's message is coded to avoid debate - perfectly in line with the government's attitude. If he spoke plain English the public would be aware of what the issues were and that would be way too transparent. Could you imagine the trouble caused by being open in a democracy? Far better to hide behind a communication fog, push decisions through and by the time the public smell a rat it's ok to say "Oops, sorry, too late." Westminster is rotten to the core.

  • 10.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • Tired&Emotional wrote:

Yesterday PMQ's and the night before a disasterous University Challenge! Whatever next? Are you one of the candidates in Blaenau Gwent today? I can't see the "Should have gone to Specsavers Party" listed on my form ;-)

  • 11.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • James R wrote:

Nick, you are in danger of becoming Cameron's right hand man if this carries on. I'd be unnerved too if a lilly-livered, spineless jelly like David Cameron started using quotes from me to back up his argument.

  • 12.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • colin portch wrote:

if there is a bigger tory stooge than robinson anywhere in the media,i have yet to read or hear him/her.

  • 13.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

I felt slightly unnerved on your behalf. Must have made you think, "Crumbs, am I in for it now", or words to similar effect. But, there again, maybe Tony and/or Gordon don't frighten you that much. I found yesterday's PMQs extremely entertaining but for depressing reasons. All Cameron aimed to do with his first four questions was embarrass Blair about Brown over a vote on a successor to Trident. He succeeded - big deal. And when Blair tried to turn the tables by challenging Cameron to talk about policy it was only an utterly transparent attempt to avoid giving a straight answer. No surprises, there, I don't suppose. But if you'd enjoy a cheap laugh about it anyway, you can read my 'unpacking' of the proceedings here:

(I'm not expecting Nick to comment, by the way)

  • 14.
  • At on 29 Jun 2006,
  • kim wrote:

Crumbs Nick, keep a sense of proportion !

It must have been very nice for you, but you appear rather starstruck. Remember, you were used as a soundbite.

Anyway, in the interests of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ impartiality, you now owe TB a soundbite for next week, failing which a joke (or some photographs "from the archives").

This could run and run.

  • 15.
  • At on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Dave wrote:

So politicians are quoting journalists now? Isn't it meant to be the other way round?
The world is going topsy turvy.

  • 16.
  • At on 30 Jun 2006,
  • john danvers wrote:

All the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ do is spin news stories all day long so Nick as the now infamous political editor of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ you are the expert at recognising spin. Keep on churning out the Brown/Blair soap stuff too as that has not become the most nauseatingly boring story of the last 3 years.

  • 17.
  • At on 02 Jul 2006,
  • Mohmand wrote:

I am beggining to think if his strategy was to buy your or the media's support?

it wouldn't surprise me if it is, because labour has strategies and the media has follow them and they grab the headlins anyway, but what has cameron got???

  • 18.
  • At on 03 Jul 2006,
  • s_elliott wrote:

I agree with 15. Using a quote from Robinson for an attack on Blair is just feeble. I'm sure that it would have been easy for you to provide some ammunition for Blair this wednesday if he hadn't had such an awful week so far - hopefully. Like Cameron's absolute lack of policy, perhaps.

Re comment 7 - it would be interesting to get at IPs logged for some of these comments, several look suspicious. CCHQ, anyone?

  • 19.
  • At on 05 Jul 2006,
  • Alex Moyes wrote:

Mabe the public would vote for a politician who spoke the simple truth. even if they disagreed they may respect a person for being open and straight talking and answering questions honestly. I wounder if any MP's have tried that lately?

  • 20.
  • At on 10 Jul 2006,
  • wrote:

In response to Camerons 'Hug a Hoodie' speech:
Greater investment is required to support all young people to have the opportunity to take part in local activities, to make a positive contribution in their communities, to lead healthy lifestyles and to stay away from crime and antisocial behaviour. The voluntary and community sector is already playing its part. Young people have aspirations and these can better be realised by supportive youth workers and attractive things to do and places to go. This should be the focus of the Respect agenda

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