The Speaker makes a pig's ear of Questiontime

IT was not a good day for Speaker Michael Martin. For the first time in memory. he stopped an opposition leader from asking the Prime Minister a question, judging it to be about the Labour Party and not the duties of Mr Blair.

In the cut and thrust of the weekly session of questions, many protocols get overlooked or blurred. And in the past, Mr Martin has prevented thw PM from asking Tory and Lib Dem leaders about their policies because the occasion is meant to be about Government policies and holding the PM to account.

After stopping David Cameron in his tracks yesterday - he was cheekily asking Mr Blair who he thought would be the best person to lead the Labour Party when he quits - Mr Martin allowed the Tory leader to ask Mr Blair who he thought would be the best person to become Prime Minister after he leaves Downing Street.

A nice distinction, but it just demonstrates that parliamentary rules and procedures are archane and not "fit for purpose." Perhaps we should get Charles Clarke to draft a new set - he didn't think the county structure of our police forces was fit for purpose. Then again, after he was sacked, his successor John Reid dropped them so Mr Clarke's record would not fit the job description of a parliamentary draftsman.

As for Mr Martin, many MPs feel he has outstayed his welcome. He's a nice old boy, but Old Labour through and through, and that is certainly not fit for purpose these days!