Cool as a cucumber
Clever. Very clever. David Cameron knew that today he'd been set up to be the jester at PMQs. Thus he designed questions to make sure that all the political heat was sucked out of the chamber - praise for the armed forces followed by questions about the floods then the Middle East and then praise for the PM's achievements and best wishes for his family.
It worked. As Labour MPs muttered and heckled all Tony Blair could do was thank him whilst his wife Cherie mouthed "thank you" from the public gallery.
Yesterday I surprised some viewers of the Six O'Clock News by saying that if Cameron were relaxed about the defection of an MP I was a "pineapple". (My six year old son's favourite affectionate insult these days which just popped in to my mind).
Today's performance proved that Cameron is more cucumber than pineapple.
I'm 
Comments
What's happening with the Prime Minister's resignation honours?
Cameron was almost as sycophantic towards Blair as you are towards the Tories, Nick!
You're right, interesting tactic from Cameron - boring but tactically correct. By the way, who was the 'pineapple' who asked the question about faith and why did Blair feel confident enough to completely dismiss (or 'diss' if we're using juvenile language!) him??
I think david Cameron was very admirable to praise Tony Blair.
I also think Tony Blair was very admirable to return the compliment.
Despite all the rhetoric, deep down all politicians know that politics is politics. Love him or loathe him, Tony Blair is a truly remarkable man.
Dear Nick,
I would have had much more respect for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown had at least one of them ignored this back-slapping handover charade and gone to South Yorkshire to offer their support to the folk suffering in the floods.
David Cameron might have increased his standing in the polls had he taken time to go to Yorkshire.
Their apparent lack of interest in the plight of people in a great northern city stuggling in the deluge speaks volumes for how little regard our 'leaders' really have for the 'people'.
Pineapples...Cucumbers...Tony Blair became an over-ripe banana in the fruit bowl of British politics. He just had to go. He was starting to smell.
They're holding the announcement until the recipients have sorted out their deals with Max Clifford and the Daily Mail.
A final, smooth and pretty emotional farewell.
It did not have the feel of something heavily choreographed, however, but the feel of something natural and well meant.
The House of commons should be well meant - we see too little of that.
It made such a pleasant change watching the politicians behave with some dignity at PMQs. A far cry from the schoolboy-like rabble we usually see. Perhaps they could make a habit of it?
Silly me, I might as well suggest that they link their pay to how often they turn up to the Commons.
Good for Cameron! I'm glad to see that he handled it the way he did. Quentin Davies must have been choking that he was not the centre of attention and did not get to slip the knife between his old party's ribs one more time.
In the intelligence business (MI6, CIA, etc) defectors and traitors were used but never trusted. There is a lesson there for Gordon.
In view of the weather did Tony leave the house to the strains of "It can only get wetter?"
I wouldn't call Cameron clever for doing this but smart. A clever man would have used sharp arguments but the smart man in Cameron ploughed the low road. Indeed, as I commented on this very blog, yesterday, taking a positive and relaxed approach would be best option.
Brian comments that defectors were used but never trusted by the security services. Quite. Genghis Khan took a similar but firmer line. An army switched sides on principle to back him. When the conflict was over he executed the lot. Simply, they weren't reliable.
It's hard to square the circle but if Parliament can develop MP's whose approach is more credible and accountable, this will have a positive impact on quality and cooperation. Less argument for the sake of argument, and unnecessary tribalism. Win-win.
Not a bad day. Good to see. Keep it up!
Off goes the frying pan and in comes the fire.
Clever of Cameron to douse some of the farewell flames.
Great to see David Cameron outflanking Blair, who I am sure was expecting to be able to go out on a high of publicly ridiculing the Conservatives whilst not actually answering their questions.
And nice to see you being an even-handed political commentator for a change Nick - just as you used to be when I enjoyed watching your reports and hard line questioning of politicians for ITV. Nowadays, I find it depressing to watch your constant ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ style Labour sycophancy.
Feel sorry for you Nick: you've got two comments, one which says you're sycophantic to the Tories, one which says you're sycophantic towards Labour. Can't win.
I must congratulate you Nick, for the coverage of the Historic changeover of a Prim Minister.
Nick, I wonder if you noticed the green coloured faces on the left side of the Speaker in the Commons when Tony Blair was leaving the House?
Could it be that it was jealousy, maybe envy?
Cameron showed excellent political expediency to praise the outgoing PM even in gesturing his MPs to get up and join the standing ovation.
In politics, Blair is yesterday's man now, no point railing against him. Despite all the talk of 'going when he chose', Gordon chose when he went. Continual seizing of the political agenda by the Tories, thanks to Cameron, showed Labour under Blair to be in trouble.
I expect Cameron is saving his bile for Gordon. Next week's PMQ will be interesting.
It's wonderful how by Cameron just ignoring him that MP that defected whatever his name was is consigned to the dustbin of history.
Living in Yorkshire (not flooded, but not far from the places that are)it seems to me a visit from Blair, Brown or Cameron could only get in the way.
It annoys me that people assume that senior politicians should be in the thick of it during a natural emergency. The emegency services on the ground don't need interference, and any support the PM etc can provide is better done from HQ. Let them turn up when the dust has settled to thank and hand out the medals.
Resignation honours? They're about to become ministers, that way they can recover their outlay AND get the honours they were promised.
For all the rhetoric the Blair departure speaks volumes of the man especially with his closing comment:
"I wish everyone, friend or foe, well and that is that, the end."
The end of HIS premiership, HIS ego trip at the expense of British politics. Never mind the nation and the people; it's not the end but a continuation of the political process. This Freudian slip in his last words speaks volumes.
My 16 year old daughter watched the highlights of PMQs on TV last night. She was impressed by the attitude of everyone and as someone who has just finished school recognised the extra special not just 'end of term' but end of an era atmosphere. She experienced a similar thing as she left to take her GCSEs. She knows pupils in the other years are still there still working but for her it had finished. I worry about people who have allowed themselves to become so sceptical that they see negatives in everything.