Tom Richmond: Coalition finds right man to lay down the law

This was borne out by the emergency question that Alistair Darling, the now former Chancellor, tabled over the proposed 6bn for efficiency savings that were announced 24 hours before the pomp and ceremony of the State Opening. He did so because he knew George Osborne, his Tory successor, would be in talks with his US counterpart about the global economic crisis – and that he wanted to test the nerve of the new Government.

As a tactic, it backfired spectacularly. For what Labour did not expect was a robust performance at the Dispatch Box by Mr Osborne's deputy David Laws – the Treasury Chief Secretary – who took on all-comers about Labour's dismal record and explained how his predecessor had left a note saying that all the money had run out.

It was a bravado performance which even had Tory backbenchers cheering their new hero to the rafters. In short, it was a defence of the new Government that Mr Osborne, himself, would have been unable to deliver because of his poor debating skills.

There was one curious omission – which Labour veteran Dennis Skinner highlighted. No Cabinet Minister was sitting alongside Laws offering their support, although the green benches were packed with junior Ministers.

"Can there be a more pathetic sight than this Liberal Democrat who campaigned against cuts in 2010 now hammering the young and the old and putting people on the dole and a member of this Rag, Tag and Bobtail Government. Get out," stormed the discourteous Bolsover MP.

The fact that Skinner is rattled is an indication that Labour are incapable of learning from their past mistakes. As the Minister told him: "The Cabinet have given support where it matters most – in delivering the savings. These savings were delivered in a matter of days, something which his colleagues were never able to do."

Put simply, the Cabinet was getting on with sorting out the economic mess – while Labour were trying to make mischief instead of coming to terms with their electoral defeat.

It's going to become a familiar story, especially if the Treasury Chief Secretary continues to lay down the law.

NOW we know why BBC broadcaster Andrew Neil gave Vince Cable, the Lib Dem Business Secretary, such a rough ride during the election.

York-born Cable was Neil's tutor when he studied at the University of Glasgow. "He wasn't the most exciting of tutors, I have to admit. He was very Labour in those days," Neil told the Total Politics magazine.

However, the former Sunday Times editor is right when he points out that some commentators hero-worshipped Cable during the credit crunch.

"No one ever asked Vince, 'Why are you arguing that?' They always said, 'What do you think of that?' We treated him like a journalist and that helped his stature to grow," says Neil. "So I decided it was time to treat him as a politician seeking power like any other. When he's treated in the same way as we would treat Alistair Darling or George Osborne, I do think you see a different Vince Cable."

IT is worth recording that the first backbencher to respond to David Cameron in the Queen's Speech debate was Sir Gerald Kaufman – the Labour grandee who charged the taxpayer 1,851 for a rug he imported from New York and who once told a Commons clerk: "Why are you querying these expenses?" I hope this is not a sign of things to come.

I'M sure Labour leadership hopefuls Ed Balls and Ed Miliband, who both represent Yorkshire seats, were sincere with their critical remarks about the Iraq war.

I also accept that the invasion preceded their election to the House of Commons by two years. But, given their longstanding association with Gordon Brown and pivotal positions within the Government, why did they not speak out at the time – or in their 2005 election addresses?

I'M intrigued that Ministers are being told to travel second class on the railways – and dispense with their official cars.

Chris Mullin tried to do likewise when he was a junior Minister under John Prescott and civil servants went to extraordinary lengths to make him keep his Ministerial car, even though it was superfluous to requirements.

PERHAPS oil giant BP – or should that be Big Polluter? – will speed up its inadequate response to the unfolding environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, where crude oil continues to gush into the sea, if motorists boycott its filling stations. It's just a thought.

A WORD of advice to David Cameron – cut down the photo-opportunities with celebrities. He spent part of Monday night with the cricketers who won ICC World Twenty20 under Paul Collingwood's stirring leadership.

Yet, according to Huddersfield-born fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad, the PM was caught out by the winning skipper's name. "He got Colly's name wrong. He called him Colin Collingwood. That's what he called him. I could forgive him though because he must have a lot going through his head."

HE'S already one of England's most wanted footballers – but Leeds-born James Milner can expect a call from the marketing men at Welcome to Yorkshire.

Asked whether he would be taking a break in a hectic World Cup summer, Milner, who spends time each summer watching his friends play cricket in Horsforth, said: "Maybe a weekend in Scarborough. Filey maybe?"

If Milner helps England to glory in South Africa, you can imagine Gary Verity, a Leeds United fan and the WTY chief executive, putting up a giant poster: "Scarborough – the place where World Cup winners holiday".