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| Clegg faces first Commons clash | |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Nick Clegg is facing his first Prime Minister's question time as Liberal Democrat leader. | |
| The 41-year-old is set to face Gordon Brown in the House of Commons in the first half-hour session of 2008. | |
| Mr Clegg, who beat Chris Huhne to the leadership in December, will have two questions in which to make an impact. | Mr Clegg, who beat Chris Huhne to the leadership in December, will have two questions in which to make an impact. |
| Tory leader David Cameron welcomed Mr Clegg, saying to cheers: "He's the fourth Liberal Democrat leader I have faced and I wish him well." | |
| I'm incredibly optimistic about the prospects for the Liberal Democrats Nick CleggLib Dem leader Analysis: Do PMQs matter?Clash: Point-by-point | I'm incredibly optimistic about the prospects for the Liberal Democrats Nick CleggLib Dem leader Analysis: Do PMQs matter?Clash: Point-by-point |
| The weekly joust between the prime minister, leaders of the opposition and MPs, is a notoriously rowdy affair in which members have to almost shout to get themselves heard. | The weekly joust between the prime minister, leaders of the opposition and MPs, is a notoriously rowdy affair in which members have to almost shout to get themselves heard. |
| Unlike the prime minister and leader of the opposition, the Lib Dem leader does not have a dispatch box from which to ask his questions. | Unlike the prime minister and leader of the opposition, the Lib Dem leader does not have a dispatch box from which to ask his questions. |
| 'Looking forward' | 'Looking forward' |
| The Lib Dem leader also suffers from having only two questions compared with Conservative leader David Cameron's six questions. | The Lib Dem leader also suffers from having only two questions compared with Conservative leader David Cameron's six questions. |
| And in both cases the occasion is structured in a way which means the prime minister always has the last word in any exchange. | And in both cases the occasion is structured in a way which means the prime minister always has the last word in any exchange. |
| I'm not sure if that many members of the public really pay that much attention to it Nick Clegg on Prime Minister's questions End of two-party system?Clegg's frontbench team | I'm not sure if that many members of the public really pay that much attention to it Nick Clegg on Prime Minister's questions End of two-party system?Clegg's frontbench team |
| As he made his way to the Commons for the noon session Mr Clegg appeared unfazed, telling the BBC: "It's a big moment - it'll be over in a few seconds though. | |
| He said that rather than worrying about addressing MPs he was "looking forward to the next months and years". | |
| "I'm incredibly optimistic about the prospects for the Liberal Democrats. This Wednesday morning ritual is only one small sort of stitch in that wider pattern. | "I'm incredibly optimistic about the prospects for the Liberal Democrats. This Wednesday morning ritual is only one small sort of stitch in that wider pattern. |
| "I think it's important in Westminster terms - I'm not sure if that many members of the public really pay that much attention to it, but it's certainly important in terms of our parliamentary ritual and procedure." | "I think it's important in Westminster terms - I'm not sure if that many members of the public really pay that much attention to it, but it's certainly important in terms of our parliamentary ritual and procedure." |
| Consultation | Consultation |
| However, Mr Clegg, an ex-journalist, former Euro MP and the Lib Dems' third leader in two years, admitted he had spoken to his predecessors Paddy Ashdown, Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell ahead of his appearance. | However, Mr Clegg, an ex-journalist, former Euro MP and the Lib Dems' third leader in two years, admitted he had spoken to his predecessors Paddy Ashdown, Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell ahead of his appearance. |
| The subject he chooses will be closely watched for signs of his priorities as leader. | The subject he chooses will be closely watched for signs of his priorities as leader. |
| TIMINGS Prime Minister's questions began at 1200. You can watch it live from this page. Brown's PMQs debutCameron's PMQs debut | |
| As new leader Mr Clegg's initial task is to raise his public profile - there is widespread debate about the importance of the Commons questions sessions on voters' views. | As new leader Mr Clegg's initial task is to raise his public profile - there is widespread debate about the importance of the Commons questions sessions on voters' views. |
| Vince Cable, who became acting leader after Sir Menzies Campbell quit, received widespread praise for his witty contributions to question time. | Vince Cable, who became acting leader after Sir Menzies Campbell quit, received widespread praise for his witty contributions to question time. |
| But the experience of past Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell - and Iain Duncan Smith for the Conservatives - suggests that poor performances can damage a leader's standing with their own MPs. | But the experience of past Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell - and Iain Duncan Smith for the Conservatives - suggests that poor performances can damage a leader's standing with their own MPs. |