David Cameron survives – MPs roar with success at the 1922 committee

I wrote this morning that David Cameron faced a big test today. For two or three days, difficult gossip had been spreading between Tory MPs about the PM’s recent performance. There was even, particularly worryingly, talk of an early election. That will all stop now – Dave has just received a rapturous reception at the 1922, with close to a minute’s worth of desk-banging at each end, and waves of laughter in the middle.


I’m told no MPs asked questions about phone hacking, Andy Coulson or Neil Wallis. Instead, the PM was asked questions about the eurozone and three questions – two supportive – about international aid spending. After today’s Commons performance, Tories feel this scandal is spent – they’ve been hurt, but Labour have now milked the last drop of success. If they keep at it, they will just look out of touch with the rest of the public, who are rather bored of this endless story.
So a success for David Cameron, but Ed Miliband is not too unhappy either. The Parliamentary Labour Party seems satisfied enough with the few hits he has landed over the past fortnight. In fact, I just spotted him in Strangers’ Bar with David Miliband with a broad grin on his face. So both leaders are going into recess as secure as they could reasonably hope to be. Everyone’s a winner – everyone but Rupert Murdoch anyway.