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| The Full Story: PM's questions | The Full Story: PM's questions |
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| Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons | |
| By Brian Wheeler 1242 OK. That's your lot for this week. Probably not a vintage session but there is plenty going on elsewhere for political obsessives to get their teeth into. Normal service should be resumed next week, assuming Gordon Brown has returned from Northern Ireland by then, of course. | By Brian Wheeler 1242 OK. That's your lot for this week. Probably not a vintage session but there is plenty going on elsewhere for political obsessives to get their teeth into. Normal service should be resumed next week, assuming Gordon Brown has returned from Northern Ireland by then, of course. |
| Daily Politics' guests give their verdict on PM's questions | |
| 1238 BBC political editor Nick Robinson says Harriet Harman did not look as comfortable as she normally does when she stands in at PM's questions, but he tells Daily Politics she may have been suffering from lack of preparation, as she had only been drafted in at the last moment, with Gordon Brown being still tied up in Northern Ireland. The session was interesting politically because of the Conservatives' policy of "hugging Obama close" on the banks, he says. | 1238 BBC political editor Nick Robinson says Harriet Harman did not look as comfortable as she normally does when she stands in at PM's questions, but he tells Daily Politics she may have been suffering from lack of preparation, as she had only been drafted in at the last moment, with Gordon Brown being still tied up in Northern Ireland. The session was interesting politically because of the Conservatives' policy of "hugging Obama close" on the banks, he says. |
| 1236 From BBC political correspondent Terry Stiastny: Were Tory backbenchers primed to ask questions framed in the language of feminism because Harriet Harman's a well-known supporter of women's rights? We had a question about rape sentencing put as one of "disregard for women's rights"; and one about whether lack of cervical screening for young women was discriminating against them. And I was wrong about the nitroglycerine. | 1236 From BBC political correspondent Terry Stiastny: Were Tory backbenchers primed to ask questions framed in the language of feminism because Harriet Harman's a well-known supporter of women's rights? We had a question about rape sentencing put as one of "disregard for women's rights"; and one about whether lack of cervical screening for young women was discriminating against them. And I was wrong about the nitroglycerine. |
| 1233 Tory MP Anthony Steen earns praise from Ms Harman for his work on human trafficking, bringing the session to a close on a cross-party note. | 1233 Tory MP Anthony Steen earns praise from Ms Harman for his work on human trafficking, bringing the session to a close on a cross-party note. |
| 1232 The end of the session sees questions on issues such as Holocaust Day, cervical cancer and pensions for Royal Mail workers. | 1232 The end of the session sees questions on issues such as Holocaust Day, cervical cancer and pensions for Royal Mail workers. |
| 1230 Tory MP for Monmouth David Davies draws a few gasps from MPs as he brings up the case of a 13-year-old boy sentenced to three years in jail for a "violent rape", saying it is a flagrant abuse of women's rights. | 1230 Tory MP for Monmouth David Davies draws a few gasps from MPs as he brings up the case of a 13-year-old boy sentenced to three years in jail for a "violent rape", saying it is a flagrant abuse of women's rights. |
| 1228 From BBC political correspondent Terry Stiastny: William Hague only eventually built up to an attack on the government's handling of the economy as a whole; saying the prime minister was wrong to build an economy based on debt. But he got there by a more roundabout route: praising President Obama's handling of the banks and contrasting it with Gordon Brown's proposals for a Tobin tax. That's a tax on financial transactions and possibly not the most accessible of soundbites. His earlier questions on Afghanistan got a bit tetchy: Harriet Harman accused William Hague of "carping" about the upcoming Afghan conference and he retorted that there was no need for her to make party political points. Ms Harman's attempted self-deprecating joke about her recent driving incident "his reversing is even worse than mine" fell a bit flat. It was left to Vince Cable to challenge her on the equalities report; and they seemed to talk intentionally at cross purposes to each other. | 1228 From BBC political correspondent Terry Stiastny: William Hague only eventually built up to an attack on the government's handling of the economy as a whole; saying the prime minister was wrong to build an economy based on debt. But he got there by a more roundabout route: praising President Obama's handling of the banks and contrasting it with Gordon Brown's proposals for a Tobin tax. That's a tax on financial transactions and possibly not the most accessible of soundbites. His earlier questions on Afghanistan got a bit tetchy: Harriet Harman accused William Hague of "carping" about the upcoming Afghan conference and he retorted that there was no need for her to make party political points. Ms Harman's attempted self-deprecating joke about her recent driving incident "his reversing is even worse than mine" fell a bit flat. It was left to Vince Cable to challenge her on the equalities report; and they seemed to talk intentionally at cross purposes to each other. |
| 1226Labour's Chris Mullin brings up inequality again, saying it is often down to outsourcing of jobs, which he says bars people from pensions and other benefits "we associate with civilisation". Ms Harman continues her feminist theme, saying women are often the most affected by outsourcing and says it is being addressed. | 1226Labour's Chris Mullin brings up inequality again, saying it is often down to outsourcing of jobs, which he says bars people from pensions and other benefits "we associate with civilisation". Ms Harman continues her feminist theme, saying women are often the most affected by outsourcing and says it is being addressed. |
| 1224 Ms Harman gets a big laugh from all sides as she answers a question from Lib Dem Evan Harris on the Catholic and female succession to the Crown. "It will be worth the wait," quips Ms Harman, a well-known feminist, before adding: "Or perhaps not." | 1224 Ms Harman gets a big laugh from all sides as she answers a question from Lib Dem Evan Harris on the Catholic and female succession to the Crown. "It will be worth the wait," quips Ms Harman, a well-known feminist, before adding: "Or perhaps not." |
| 1222 Inequality again, as Tory MP David Jones quotes Lord Mandelson, who once said Labour was "intensely relaxed" about people getting "filthy rich". Ms Harman can not get her answer out for Tory cries of outrage, forcing the Speaker to step in and order them to be quiet. | 1222 Inequality again, as Tory MP David Jones quotes Lord Mandelson, who once said Labour was "intensely relaxed" about people getting "filthy rich". Ms Harman can not get her answer out for Tory cries of outrage, forcing the Speaker to step in and order them to be quiet. |
| 1220 The SNP's Pete Wishart asks Ms Harman if "in her quieter moments" she does not reflect on the "disastrous" and "illegal" Iraq war. She says it is all being examined by the Chilcot inquiry. | 1220 The SNP's Pete Wishart asks Ms Harman if "in her quieter moments" she does not reflect on the "disastrous" and "illegal" Iraq war. She says it is all being examined by the Chilcot inquiry. |
| 1218 Mr Cable attacks the government's tax cuts for the wealthy and gets in a reference to his "mansion tax", which would penalise people living in expensive houses. Ms Harman lauds the government record on helping the poor, and accuses the Lib Dems of wanting "savage cuts". | 1218 Mr Cable attacks the government's tax cuts for the wealthy and gets in a reference to his "mansion tax", which would penalise people living in expensive houses. Ms Harman lauds the government record on helping the poor, and accuses the Lib Dems of wanting "savage cuts". |
| 1216 Vince Cable, the Lib Dem deputy leader, asks about today's report on widening inequality - a favourite subject for Ms Harman. She claims - to Tory groans - that the gap between rich and poor widened under the Conservatives. | 1216 Vince Cable, the Lib Dem deputy leader, asks about today's report on widening inequality - a favourite subject for Ms Harman. She claims - to Tory groans - that the gap between rich and poor widened under the Conservatives. |
| 1213 Ms Harman hits back with another attack on the Tories' record. Labour and Tory MPs are both baying their approval for this clash, but it feels a little perfunctory. She ends with what appears to be a light-hearted reference to her driving (she was fined £350 recently for driving without due care and attention). "His reversing is even worse than mine." | 1213 Ms Harman hits back with another attack on the Tories' record. Labour and Tory MPs are both baying their approval for this clash, but it feels a little perfunctory. She ends with what appears to be a light-hearted reference to her driving (she was fined £350 recently for driving without due care and attention). "His reversing is even worse than mine." |
| 1212 Mr Hague ploughs on - calling for the government to hand control of financial regulation back to the Bank of England, in line with Tory policy. A bit more party political sparring, as Mr Hague says Mr Brown was wrong at every stage on banking reform and calls again for Labour to back Obama's bank plan. | 1212 Mr Hague ploughs on - calling for the government to hand control of financial regulation back to the Bank of England, in line with Tory policy. A bit more party political sparring, as Mr Hague says Mr Brown was wrong at every stage on banking reform and calls again for Labour to back Obama's bank plan. |
| 1211 Mr Hague calls on the government to drop its "Tobin tax" on bank transactions. Ms Harman parlays his attack into a party political point, saying all countries back the idea of a fiscal stimulus, like the one Gordon Brown introduced. | 1211 Mr Hague calls on the government to drop its "Tobin tax" on bank transactions. Ms Harman parlays his attack into a party political point, saying all countries back the idea of a fiscal stimulus, like the one Gordon Brown introduced. |
| 1209 Mr Hague switches focus to the banking system, asking why the government is not enthusiastically supporting President Obama's plan to break up the banks. Ms Harman says the Americans have different priorities but the key thing is to work together internationally. | 1209 Mr Hague switches focus to the banking system, asking why the government is not enthusiastically supporting President Obama's plan to break up the banks. Ms Harman says the Americans have different priorities but the key thing is to work together internationally. |
| 1207 William Hague goes in on Afghanistan, welcoming the appointment of a new NATO coordinator in Afghanistan but asks if the upcoming conference in London will be effective, as similar initiatives in the past have not. Groans from the Tories as Ms Harman accuses him of "carping". | 1207 William Hague goes in on Afghanistan, welcoming the appointment of a new NATO coordinator in Afghanistan but asks if the upcoming conference in London will be effective, as similar initiatives in the past have not. Groans from the Tories as Ms Harman accuses him of "carping". |
| 1205 Labour's Mark Todd brings up manufacturing jobs in Derbyshire. Ms Harman says she looks forward to strong growth in this sector. | 1205 Labour's Mark Todd brings up manufacturing jobs in Derbyshire. Ms Harman says she looks forward to strong growth in this sector. |
| 1204 Tory MP John Whittingdale raises the issue of ex-soldiers who receive compensation for injuries having their benefits cut. Ms Harman says new proposals are in the pipeline. | 1204 Tory MP John Whittingdale raises the issue of ex-soldiers who receive compensation for injuries having their benefits cut. Ms Harman says new proposals are in the pipeline. |
| 1202 Harriet Harman begins with now customary tributes to soldiers killed in Afghanistan. | 1202 Harriet Harman begins with now customary tributes to soldiers killed in Afghanistan. |
| 1201 Gordon Brown enjoys doing PM's questions more than Tony Blair ever did, claims immigration minister Phil Woolas, after Nick Robinson suggests he might be relieved to miss this week's session. Mr Woolas says he loves the clashes between William Hague and Harriet Harman, who is now on her feet at the start of the session. | 1201 Gordon Brown enjoys doing PM's questions more than Tony Blair ever did, claims immigration minister Phil Woolas, after Nick Robinson suggests he might be relieved to miss this week's session. Mr Woolas says he loves the clashes between William Hague and Harriet Harman, who is now on her feet at the start of the session. |
| 1200 They are deep into a line-by-line analysis of the UN resolutions at the Chilcot inquiry, but we must steel ourselves for the more knockabout delights of PM's questions, which is now mere seconds away. | 1200 They are deep into a line-by-line analysis of the UN resolutions at the Chilcot inquiry, but we must steel ourselves for the more knockabout delights of PM's questions, which is now mere seconds away. |
| 1159 Mr Pickles signs off on the Daily Politics with what seems to be the Tories election slogan: "We can't go on like this". Seems that it's a phrase all Tories are now keen to repeat in all media appearances. | 1159 Mr Pickles signs off on the Daily Politics with what seems to be the Tories election slogan: "We can't go on like this". Seems that it's a phrase all Tories are now keen to repeat in all media appearances. |
| 1157 UN resolution 1441 was not "crystal clear" and he believed a second resolution was needed, Lord Goldsmith is telling the inquiry. | 1157 UN resolution 1441 was not "crystal clear" and he believed a second resolution was needed, Lord Goldsmith is telling the inquiry. |
| 1153 Back in the day-to-day world of party politics, Tory chairman Eric Pickles is defending their prison ships policy on the Daily Politics, after reports it was dreamed up by press chief Andy Coulson. Expect an announcement soon, says Mr Pickles, referring, to how important it is in a "post Pugwash world". Always a man with a memorable turn of phrase. | 1153 Back in the day-to-day world of party politics, Tory chairman Eric Pickles is defending their prison ships policy on the Daily Politics, after reports it was dreamed up by press chief Andy Coulson. Expect an announcement soon, says Mr Pickles, referring, to how important it is in a "post Pugwash world". Always a man with a memorable turn of phrase. |
| 1150 From BBC political correspondent Terry Stiastny: It is the clash of the deputies this week: Gordon Brown has spent longer than expected in Northern Ireland, with talks in Belfast going on for much of the night and resuming this morning. So Harriet Harman will face William Hague and Vince Cable instead. Will they choose to question her on the economy just squeaking back into growth? An influential fund manager's comment that Britain's debt is "resting on a bed of nitroglycerine" is probably too tempting to resist quoting. Or will it be the Equality Panel report published this morning, which Harriet Harman oversaw, and which the opposition say shows the government has failed to reduce inequality between rich and poor... | 1150 From BBC political correspondent Terry Stiastny: It is the clash of the deputies this week: Gordon Brown has spent longer than expected in Northern Ireland, with talks in Belfast going on for much of the night and resuming this morning. So Harriet Harman will face William Hague and Vince Cable instead. Will they choose to question her on the economy just squeaking back into growth? An influential fund manager's comment that Britain's debt is "resting on a bed of nitroglycerine" is probably too tempting to resist quoting. Or will it be the Equality Panel report published this morning, which Harriet Harman oversaw, and which the opposition say shows the government has failed to reduce inequality between rich and poor... |
| 1146 A tetchy Lord Goldsmith doenot seem too big a fan of Foreign Office lawyer Elizabeth Wilmshurst who quit after saying the Iraq war was illegal. "She wasn't involved," says the former attorney general when asked about one aspect of the pre-war period, before being warned by Sir Roderick Lyne not to personalise the issue. | 1146 A tetchy Lord Goldsmith doenot seem too big a fan of Foreign Office lawyer Elizabeth Wilmshurst who quit after saying the Iraq war was illegal. "She wasn't involved," says the former attorney general when asked about one aspect of the pre-war period, before being warned by Sir Roderick Lyne not to personalise the issue. |
| 1144 A further distraction from PM's questions could come in the form of a Gordon Brown press conference from Northern Ireland, which could come at any time after midday, we are told. | 1144 A further distraction from PM's questions could come in the form of a Gordon Brown press conference from Northern Ireland, which could come at any time after midday, we are told. |
| 1143 Lord Goldsmith is momentarily flustered as he inadvertently makes a joke about a UN resolution being the "last straw". "I didn't mean to make a joke," he insists. | 1143 Lord Goldsmith is momentarily flustered as he inadvertently makes a joke about a UN resolution being the "last straw". "I didn't mean to make a joke," he insists. |
| 1142 BBC Political Correspondent Laura Kuenssberg, at the Chilcot inquiry: Govt plagued by 'undergrowth' of ministers, advisers and the press - Goldsmith doesn't seem to have enjoyed being part of it | 1142 BBC Political Correspondent Laura Kuenssberg, at the Chilcot inquiry: Govt plagued by 'undergrowth' of ministers, advisers and the press - Goldsmith doesn't seem to have enjoyed being part of it |
| 1141 While we're waiting I'll just update you on some of the fascinating stuff already from Lord Goldsmith - particularly when he spoke of his frustration that his summer 2002 advice that military action was not justified in Iraq had not been welcomed by Tony Blair. Mr Blair, of course, will take his turn in the hot seat on Friday. | 1141 While we're waiting I'll just update you on some of the fascinating stuff already from Lord Goldsmith - particularly when he spoke of his frustration that his summer 2002 advice that military action was not justified in Iraq had not been welcomed by Tony Blair. Mr Blair, of course, will take his turn in the hot seat on Friday. |
| 1140 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of prime ministers' questions. With Gordon Brown still in Northern Ireland, it is the deputies' turn to step into the spotlight, although most MPs will be keeping half an eye on events on the other side of Parliament Square at the Queen Elizabeth conference centre, where ex-Attorney General Lord Goldsmith is appearing before the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war. | 1140 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of prime ministers' questions. With Gordon Brown still in Northern Ireland, it is the deputies' turn to step into the spotlight, although most MPs will be keeping half an eye on events on the other side of Parliament Square at the Queen Elizabeth conference centre, where ex-Attorney General Lord Goldsmith is appearing before the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war. |