Has the Coalition liberated backbenchers?

And gave them a sense of freedom to ask openly the questions their constituents ask of them? It sure did feel like that at PMQs today!

First of the mark was Philip Davies, who asked the Prime Minster “did people vote Conservative to see fewer people being sent to prison?” and called for the PM to cut Sky TV access to those currently in prisons. Then Douglas Carswell opened by saying that even though he likes referendums he was surprised that the Coalition is having a referendum on AV which was in none of the parties manifestos but not Europe which was in all three parties’ manifestos! The third [much milder question] came from Graham Brady; he asked whether savers and pensioners will be protected in next week’s Budget.

All three were legitimate questions that carried legitimate concerns from Tory and non Tory voters alike, but we are not used to hostile questions being asked ‘opening’ form the government side. Nevertheless, by asking them today our politics has entered another new frontier. Is that because of the Coalition or has our politics simply changed?