The Open University's Reader in Government Richard Heffernan is joined in this video by parlimentary sketchwriter for The Times, Ann Treneman, and Daily Mail journalist Quentin Letts to discuss Prime Minister's Questions.
- Want to share your views on the topics discussed in this video? Use our comments section below.
- This video was created as part of the Inside the Commons series.
- Want to learn more about politics? Try a free course in political ordering.
- The Open University offers a series of courses in politics. See which ones might suit you on The Open University website.
Rate and Review
Rate this video
Review this video
Log into OpenLearn to leave reviews and join in the conversation.
Video reviews
I got the impression that there are strong voices for maintaining the status quo....whether it is the journalists who enjoy commenting on the entertainment value, or the politicians who have grown skilled at the adversarial style of things.
what would be interesting is to know what other governments do, that we might perhaps learn from.
Wow, that's depressing. These journalists, Anne Treneman nd Quentin Letts, dont get it. I dont like the atmosphere at PMQ's because the aggression doesn't lead to dealing with things that really matter to anyone outside of a small Westminster bubble. And I wouldn't be surprised if lost of other people feel the same.
Yes exactly - its all about ego, positioning, posturing - and that is only of interest to those involved. I see it as a serious dereliction of duty that people are so involved in themselves that they can't put the interests of others (the rest of the country) first.
A better way of discussing and debating to hold the Government to account would involve genuinely listening to what others have to say, thinking carefully and thoughtfully about what you want to say yourself (and not speaking unless you have something genuinely helpful to add), and drawing on all aspects of yourself - moral, emotional, spiritual - aswell as just the intellect - to make a decision. If someone was really doing that it would mean the desire to look good or appear strong would be much further down their agenda.
Adopting a more thoughtful and careful style requires MP's (and journalists perhaps) to get over their own egos in the service of others. It seems many struggle with this, and, those that can do it can't get heard because of the prevailing culture. It makes the system look infantile and undoubtedly makes it function much less well.
Most of us in everyday life have to work through the perrenial question of how to work with others to get things done in the collective interests of ourselves and others. If we were aggressive, rude or bullying in a work meeting it would not go down well and others would think less highly of us. That is not because people in the meeting are weak. It is because such an atmosphere stops people thinking creatively, broadly, and well, and makes it much harder for certain important voices to be heard. This leads to much poorer decision making.
If journalists and MP's are the ones we rely so heavily on to express our voices to Government, yet they are so corrupted themselves, it is inevitable that decisions made in such an atmosphere wont be as good as they could have been.