header-logo header-logo

PMQs & the art of advocacy

04 June 2020 / John Cooper KC
Issue: 7889 / Categories: Features , Profession
printer mail-detail
22070
Watching Johnson v Starmer at the dispatch box is fascinating, says John Cooper QC

Many of you will have noted a distinct change in style as to the way Boris Johnson (pictured left) is questioned at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) and it is fair to say that every person brings their own approach to this important opportunity, designed to extract information, clarity and transparency in respect of the Prime Minister’s conduct of affairs.

The concept of asking the Prime Minister questions in the House of Commons was first introduced in 1881 under the office of William Gladstone as Prime Minister, and in 1961 the process was updated with questions to the PM being taken for two fixed periods on a Tuesday and Thursday with the very first question addressed to Harold Macmillan by Labour’s Fenner Brockway, who began on the 18 July 1961 with: ‘May I express our appreciation of this new arrangement for answering questions and hope that it will be convenient for the Prime Minister as

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
A Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruling has reopened debate on the availability of ‘user damages’ in competition claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Edward Nyman of Hausfeld explains how the CAT allowed Dr Liza Lovdahl Gormsen’s alternative damages case against Meta to proceed, rejecting arguments that such damages are barred in competition law
back-to-top-scroll