David Cameron devoted four of his six questions to the issue of crime. The Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister about the criteria for automatic deportation of foreign criminals. He cited conflicting remarks made by the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary over recent weeks. In his second question David Cameron highlighted the Government’s confused policy on the Human Rights Act. He said that the Prime Minister keeps announcing reviews of the HRA but nothing ever happens. His third question focused on the "unacceptable" fact that the Government had no idea of the number of illegal immigrants into the UK. This was a Government in paralysis, he concluded: No voter will believe that this Government – after nine years, four Home Secretaries and over 40 criminal justice bills – will ever get a grip on crime. The Prime Minister listed the early removal scheme, tougher sentences for violent and sexual crimes and action against anti-social behaviour as examples of the Government’s action against crime.
Sir Ming rose to loud cheers from the Tory and Labour benches. He asked the Prime Minister if British troops will leave Iraq before he leaves Downing Street? Tony Blair said that British troops – there under a UN mandate and with the consent of Iraq’s democratically-elected government – would stay in Iraq until their job was done. Ming the Minger (as The Sun has cruelly dubbed him) put a second question asking if Guantanamo would be closed by the time he left office? Guantanamo was an anomaly, the PM said, but it was not his responsibility.
The Tory leader’s second set of questions focused on targets for delivering universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment. The PM replied consensually and also stressed – for the future of Africa – (1) the importance of training peacekeeping troop deployments and (2) a WTO deal on trade.