Common Endeavour

Today's Apostasy slot comes courtesy of Labour blogger Dave Cole, who reckons that Prime Minister's Question Time is a stain on our democracy and it should be abolished.

Ask most people what happens in Parliament and they will describe PMQs. They will describe it as overgrown public school boys cheering their side and shouting down the other side. They will describe it as feeding-time at the zoo. They will not recall the questions asked, the answers given or the points conceded.At best, it is a missed opportunity. While people wax lyrical about the ability to question the Prime Minister on the issues of the day, the reality is that most questions from backbenchers consist of

would the PM not agree with the statistics handed to me by the Whips that show that we're great and the Opposition are rubbish

And

would the PM not agree with my feigned outrage and admit that in fact we are lovely and his side is very naughty

While the exchanges between the PM and Opposition Leader are little more than practiced fencing. Indeed, the only questions that give the PM serious pause for thought tend to come from rogue backbenchers, often as not from the PM's own party. During the Halcyon days of the Blair ministry, it seemed as if the only opposition came from behind.

However, it is not just a wasted half hour.

It is one of the few parts of the Parliamentary week that attracts general interest as it can cover almost any part of the action of the state. While there is other, important business going on in the House that rarely receives televisual coverage, PMQs has its own weekly show. It gives the impression that all Parliamentary business is conducted like the refectory of a minor public school during a food fight.

The reality is very different. Committees are usually pretty serious and most debates in the Commons would do credit to the institution if seen by more than the handful of people who watch BBC Parliament. Even on the occasions when the Commons is packed and emotion is running high, it manages to retain enough of the theatre without becoming farce. However, no-one sees this. They just see PMQs and the simultaneous roars of approval and negation.

Unless and until MPs of all parties grow up, stop waving order papers, stop shouting and stop making stupid points, PMQs will do more harm than good.

Unless and until that happens, we should get rid of PMQs.

About the author:  Andreas is a Labour activist based in Norwich, he's organiser for his local ward of Town Close. He works as a software developer and being the mercenary soul that he is has found himself working in the insurance, financial services, electronics and marketing industries at various points in time. He blogs at CitizenAndreas. Read more from this author