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Jeremy Corbyn asks David Cameron 'questions from public' Jeremy Corbyn asks David Cameron 'questions from public'
(about 1 hour later)
Jeremy Corbyn has asked David Cameron a series of questions emailed to him from members of the public at his debut PMQs in a change to the usual format. Jeremy Corbyn asked David Cameron questions emailed to him from the public as he tried what he called "a different" style for his debut PMQs.
The new Labour leader said he wanted a less "theatrical" prime minister's questions with more serious debate.The new Labour leader said he wanted a less "theatrical" prime minister's questions with more serious debate.
Mr Cameron agreed that the weekly sessions should focus more on "substantial" issues.Mr Cameron agreed that the weekly sessions should focus more on "substantial" issues.
Mr Corbyn quizzed Mr Cameron on housing, tax credits and cuts to mental health services. The BBC's Norman Smith said it was much calmer than normal but the PM had not been put under any real pressure.
MPs listened in near silence to the exchanges, although noise levels rose back to their normal levels after the Labour leader reached the end of his six questions. Mr Corbyn was cheered by Labour MPs as he got to his feet, before launching into a lengthy pre-amble in which he thanked supporters for his Labour leadership victory, vowed to make PMQs less "theatrical" and explained his decision to crowd source his questions.
BBC Deputy Political Editor Norman Smith said Mr Corbyn had created a "different, calmer atmosphere in the chamber" and it had felt like a "local radio phone-in" at times with questions from the public, although Mr Cameron had not been put under any real pressure. 'Resounding victory'
The session began with Mr Cameron congratulating Mr Corbyn on his "resounding victory" in the Labour leadership contest and welcoming him to the frontbench. He said: "I thought at my first PMQs, I would do it in a slightly different way... So I sent out an email to thousands of people and asked them what questions they would like to put to the prime minister and I received 40,000 replies."
He added that "no one would be more delighted than me" if PMQs could become a "genuine exercise in asking questions and answering questions". The prime minster congratulated Mr Corbyn on his "resounding victory" in the Labour leadership contest and welcomed him to the frontbench.
Mr Corbyn was cheered by Labour MPs as he got to his feet. He thanked those who had voted for him in the contest, adding: "I thought at my first PMQs, I would do it in a slightly different way... So I sent out an email to thousands of people and asked them what questions they would like to put to the prime minister and I received 40,000 replies." Mr Cameron, who began his own career as opposition leader in 2005 promising to end "Punch and Judy" politics, then said "no one would be more delighted than me" if PMQs could become a "genuine exercise in asking questions and answering questions".
Housing Mr Corbyn's first question "from a woman called Marie" was on the "chronic lack of affordable housing" and "the extortionate rents charged by some private sector landlords" - something the new Labour leader has said will be his top priority.
He then said he was asking a question "from a woman called Marie - 'what does the government intend to do about the chronic lack of affordable housing and the extortionate rents charged by some private sector landlords in this country'?" Mr Cameron said the government had delivered more affordable homes but recognised "much more needs to be done".
Mr Cameron said the government had delivered 260,000 affordable housing units in the last parliament and had built more council houses than over the course of the 13 years of the last Labour government. 'Shameful cuts'
He added: "But I recognise much more needs to be done." Before Mr Corbyn began his second question, on job losses at housing associations, he thanked the prime minister "for his commitment that we are going to do Prime Minister's Questions in a more adult way than it's been done in the past".
Before Mr Corbyn began his second question he thanked the prime minister "for his commitment that we are going to do Prime Minister's Questions in a more adult way than it's been done in the past". He then asked about "absolutely shameful" cuts to tax credits voted through by MPs on Tuesday, on behalf of "Paul," and about cuts to mental health services, prompted by a question from "Gail".
His second question, on behalf of "Steven" was about job losses at housing associations caused by cuts in rent. Mr Cameron struck a consensual tone in his replies, agreeing that more needed to be done to improve mental health services, and paused to scold Labour MPs who were jeering him over his claim that the lowest paid would be £20 a week better off next year thanks to an increase in the minimum wage.
Mr Cameron said it was "vital" to reform housing associations to "make sure they are more efficient". "I thought this was the new Question Time. I'm not sure the message has fully got home," he told them.
The Labour leader then turned to what he called "shameful" cuts in tax credits, voted through by MPs on Tuesday, which he said would cost "£1,300 per year to families affected". The prime minister took a couple of swipes at the new Labour leader when answering questions from backbenchers, as noise levels in the chamber returned to normal levels, although Tory MPs still appeared to be following instructions to avoid triumphalism.
Quoting "Paul", he asked: 'Why is the government taking tax credits away from families?" In response to a question on Northern Ireland from DUP MP Nigel Dodds, Mr Cameron paid tribute to former Conservative MPs Airey Neave and Ian Gow, who were murdered by Republican terrorists.
The prime minister said: "What we need is a country where work pays." He did not directly refer to controversy over Mr Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell's previous comments on Northern Ireland, but said: "I have a simple view, which is the terrorism we faced was wrong, it was unjustifiable, the death and the killing was wrong. It was never justified and people who seek to justify it should be ashamed of themselves."
Mental health He held back from attacking Mr Corbyn over his much-criticised decision not to sing the national anthem at a service to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, saying in response to a question from a Tory MP that the St Paul's Cathedral event had been "a reminder of how proud we should be of our armed forces, then, today and always."
He claimed the lowest paid would get a "£20 a week pay rise next year" but the rest of his reply was drowned out by jeering from the Labour benches, Minutes before the session began Labour sources confirmed that their leader, who believes in the abolition of the monarchy, would join in with the anthem at future official engagements.
"I thought this was the new Question Time. I'm not sure the message has fully got home." Labour denied that Mr Corbyn's new approach - asking six different questions rather than pushing the prime minister on a single point - gave Mr Cameron an easy ride.
Mr Corbyn ended with a question from "Gail": "Do you think it's acceptable that the mental health services in this country are on their knees at the present time?" "The questions were very direct and they demanded clear answers," a Labour source said.
Mr Cameron said that mental health was one of "the areas where we can work together" and the government had made "some important steps" forward, bringing mental health into parity with physical health in the NHS constitution. Asked about policy differences that appear to have emerged between Mr Corbyn and his front bench, on welfare cuts and Europe, a Labour source said "lots of listening" would be done and some policies would be reviewed under the new leadership.
But he added: "We will not have a strong NHS unless we have a strong economy, and if the Labour Party is going to go down the route of unlimited spending, unlimited borrowing, unlimited tax rates, printing money, they will wreck the economic security of our country and the family security of every family in our country."
Before PMQs got under way, Labour sources confirmed Mr Corbyn, who believes in the abolition of the monarchy, will sing the national anthem at official events, after being criticised for not doing so at a service to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Mr Corbyn is the fifth Labour leader to face Mr Cameron across the despatch box over the past decade since he became Conservative leader.
Mr Corbyn has said that Angela Eagle, the shadow business secretary, will deputise for him at PMQs when he does not attend - for instance when Mr Cameron is travelling abroad, when deputy leaders traditionally stand in at the despatch box.
He has also floated the idea of allowing other colleagues to take the floor on occasion, saying he had approached the Commons Speaker John Bercow to discuss the issue.
The News Channel will be discussing Jeremy Corbyn's first PMQs throughout the day. They are interested to know what you would ask David Cameron if you were Jeremy Corbyn. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your questions.The News Channel will be discussing Jeremy Corbyn's first PMQs throughout the day. They are interested to know what you would ask David Cameron if you were Jeremy Corbyn. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your questions.
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