Ghosts haunt a less than spirited Commons clash

Gordon Brown's decision – finally – to call the election meant that dozens of the MPs crammed into the chamber yesterday had already seen their careers effectively killed off, with their life as an MP officially to be ended in five more days.

Yesterday they all came to inhale the addictive fumes of the weekly Prime Minister's Questions for one final time, accompanied by the haunted looking Labour MPs still fighting for their political lives.

Selby MP John Grogan squeezed into the corner behind the Prime Minister at the far end of the Chamber while just along the row sat former minister Richard Caborn, the Sheffield Central MP, sandwiched between the bulk of Charles Clarke and Tom Watson.

Veteran Barnsley West and Penistone MP Michael Clapham positioned himself in his usual place on the front bench near the awkward squad of Dennis Skinner and co.

A row further back there was Keighley's Ann Cryer, and next to her Leeds West's John Battle. Behind them Barnsley East's Jeff Ennis leaned forward.

On the opposite side, Skipton and Ripon's David Curry sat on the Tory benches for the final time, while Harrogate's Phil Willis was there for the Liberal Democrats.

None of them will consider it was a classic confrontation because for some reason there was some sparkle missing – despite Rotherham MP Denis MacShane's fluorescent pink tie – and the exchanges between David Cameron and Mr Brown felt a little jaded even though the campaign proper was only a day old.

One point of credit though – while other MPs opted for planted questions, Labour's Ian Cawsey, defending marginal Brigg and Goole, continued pressing the Prime Minister to help businesses who are going bust because of Ministers' refusal to do more to deal with massive backdated port rates.

When the Commons reconvenes in May, newcomers could do worse than following his example.