This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6267656.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Brown set for first PM questions | Brown set for first PM questions |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown is set to appear at his first prime minister's questions. | Gordon Brown is set to appear at his first prime minister's questions. |
| He has already addressed the Commons as PM - on constitutional reform - but this will be his first experience of the weekly gladiatorial session. | He has already addressed the Commons as PM - on constitutional reform - but this will be his first experience of the weekly gladiatorial session. |
| He faces Tory leader David Cameron, who is widely seen to have held his own in 18 months of clashes with Tony Blair. | He faces Tory leader David Cameron, who is widely seen to have held his own in 18 months of clashes with Tony Blair. |
| PMQs, as it is known, has a big impact on the morale of a leader's MPs and can set the tone for a prime minister, but its impact on voters is disputed. | PMQs, as it is known, has a big impact on the morale of a leader's MPs and can set the tone for a prime minister, but its impact on voters is disputed. |
| Former Conservative leader Michael Howard told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was possible to "exaggerate" the importance of prime minister's questions. | Former Conservative leader Michael Howard told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was possible to "exaggerate" the importance of prime minister's questions. |
| 'Welterweight' | 'Welterweight' |
| He added: "The political classes are obsessed with them. I don't think the rest of the world is. | He added: "The political classes are obsessed with them. I don't think the rest of the world is. |
| "It's important in terms of party morale but I don't think it's as decisive as some of the political classes might think." | "It's important in terms of party morale but I don't think it's as decisive as some of the political classes might think." |
| Mr Howard backed his leader to land a few early punches | |
| He added that Mr Cameron had done "extremely well against Tony Blair. I'm sure he will continue doing well". | He added that Mr Cameron had done "extremely well against Tony Blair. I'm sure he will continue doing well". |
| Lord Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party, said: "Gordon Brown made his name in the 1980s as a very effective welterweight with a heavy punch. | Lord Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party, said: "Gordon Brown made his name in the 1980s as a very effective welterweight with a heavy punch. |
| "The reality is in Gordon Brown there's a real capacity to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee." | "The reality is in Gordon Brown there's a real capacity to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee." |
| Last week's PMQs saw Mr Blair receive a standing ovation from both sides of the house as he resigned as PM. | Last week's PMQs saw Mr Blair receive a standing ovation from both sides of the house as he resigned as PM. |
| Busy week | Busy week |
| The unprecedented scenes came shortly before Mr Brown made a trip to Buckingham Palace to accept the position of prime minister after 10 years as chancellor. | The unprecedented scenes came shortly before Mr Brown made a trip to Buckingham Palace to accept the position of prime minister after 10 years as chancellor. |
| In his first seven days in Downing Street, he has unveiled a revamped Cabinet, changing all the ministers except one, and introducing many new faces. | In his first seven days in Downing Street, he has unveiled a revamped Cabinet, changing all the ministers except one, and introducing many new faces. |
| He and his newly appointed home secretary have also had to deal with a heightened security threat to the UK after car bombing attempts in London and Glasgow, which included convening the government's emergency committee Cobra. | He and his newly appointed home secretary have also had to deal with a heightened security threat to the UK after car bombing attempts in London and Glasgow, which included convening the government's emergency committee Cobra. |
| Mr Brown has also outlined constitutional changes, such as giving MPs the final say on declaring war and on international treaties. | Mr Brown has also outlined constitutional changes, such as giving MPs the final say on declaring war and on international treaties. |