PMQs: Hague says ending of 10p tax band will hurt five million poorer families

8.15pm PlayPolitical:  Watch Harriet Harman's first PMQs as Gordon Brown's Deputy

EDITORIAL VERDICT: William Hague was not at his best although he chose the right topic: Labour's regressive scrapping of the 10p tax band and its impact on five million poorer families.  Vince Cable flopped - asking a question about The Queen which risked being ruled out of order - and was.  Harriet Harman certainly exceeded expectations.  She appeared confident and although like her boss - didn't really answer any questions - she'll be pleased at this performance after yesterday's humiliation.

12.25pm: Tory John Baron asks what is unique about Britain that we need such a long period of detention without trial.  Ms Harman responds by saying that she won't listen to a party that wants to abolish the Human Rights Act introduced by Labour.

12.19pm: Charles Walker MP asks Harriet Harman to condemn the BNP candidates who suggested rape was a myth.  The Deputy Labour leader urges all Londoners to vote for mainstream parties and stop the BNP getting a seat on the London Assembly.

12.16pm: Cable asks if Mrs Harman thinks the Queen was over-reacting by cancelling her anniversary celebrations or was in touch with the public mood.  The Speaker rules a question about Her Majesty as out of order.

12.15pm: Loud cheers for Vince Cable as he gets to his feet. How many? How many? MPs shout.

12.13pm: The facts are, Hague finishes, council tax has doubled under Labour, 5m families are worse off, 300,000 small businesses are worse off.  Why do the British people have to wait two years in order to get rid of the Cabinet responsible for all of this?

12.10pm: Mr Hague jokes that Gordon Brown has gone to a palace so will probably be lost by now. He invites Mrs Harman to confirm that people do feel economically insecure and apprehensive.  The Labour Deputy Leader says that international economic turbulence has worsened since she wrote remarks for her blog quoted by Mr Hague.

12.06pm: William Hague notes Harriet Harman's stab-proof vest and her remarks that she wears a hard hat on a building site etc and asks if she wears a clown's outfit when she goes to Cabinet.  Harman responds by saying that she won't take fashion advice from a man who famously wore a baseball cap.  She then responds to William Hague's questions about the ending of the 10p income tax band.  Mr Hague said that more than 5m low income families will be worse off this weekend.  Ms Harman says she won't take lectures from a man who opposed the minimum wage.

12.04pm: Harriet Harman responds by asking why Theresa May, Shadow Leader of the House, isn't asking questions for the Conservatives.  Are women seen but not heard in the modern Tory party, she says?  She then answers William Hague's question on Zimbabwe.  She promises every effort from the Government to ensure Robert Mugabe respects the democratic wishes of the Zimbabwe people.

12.03pm: William Hague congratulates Harriet Harman on being the first female Labour MP to answer Prime Minister's Questions Time; she must be proud to follow in the footsteps of Margaret Thatcher.

Comments

[Malcolm Dunn]

Just watched it. Harman did much better than I expected ( but then I did expect a car crash) but on the abolition of the 10p tax band was defending the indefensible so Hague 'won'. However I agree with those who say Hague should be serious when taking PMQ's. Everyone knows he has a first class wit but I would like his questions to reflect the anger and bitterness that I and I suspect many other Conservatives feel at the antics of this government.

[Jim Mcleod]

That makes her a rank hypocrite, and a bad politician, in my book.

Posted by: London Tory | April 02, 2008 at 15:18

Yes, I read your diatribe I still fail to see your point. Point out out the connection between Jack Dromey, mixing with poorer people where the Dromey's send their kids to school, whether she is a hypocrite or not,wwhether she is a bad politician or not, who you know and do not know and how it comes into the equasion. I just cannot see your logic.
Where did you get the idea I was a labour supporter?
I do not support any party in particular.
You are loosing me.
I have never played the privilege card in my life, you are seeing and reading things into a situation that is not there.
Do you also read tea leaves?
Now if you cannot come up with something more logical as I am totally baffled, then I suggest my friend we end the discussion.

[Jim Mcleod]

That makes her a rank hypocrite, and a bad politician, in my book.

Posted by: London Tory | April 02, 2008 at 15:18

Yes, I read your diatribe I still fail to see your point. Point out out the connection between Jack Dromey, mixing with poorer people where the Dromey's send their kids to school, whether she is a hypocrite or not,wwhether she is a bad politician or not, who you know and do not know and how it comes into the equasion. I just cannot see your logic.
Where did you get the idea I was a labour supporter?
I do not support any party in particular.
You are loosing me.
I have never played the privilege card in my life, you are seeing and reading things into a situation that is not there.
Do you also read tea leaves?
Now if you cannot come up with something more logical as I am totally baffled, then I suggest my friend we end the discussion.

[Jim Mcleod]

Everyone knows he has a first class wit but I would like his questions to reflect the anger and bitterness that I and I suspect many other Conservatives feel at the antics of this government.

Posted by: Malcolm Dunn | April 02, 2008 at 15

Well said Malcolm, I agree with you.
I wish to hear serious questions and although we do not always get serious answers. I do not think the H.O.C should be used as a Musical Hall, or serious issues trivilised by after dinner jokes.
He does the Party no favours by his comic hall turns.
PMQ's is neither the time nor the place for it and neither is the Palace of Westminster.
He is there to represent the people not do a comedy act.

[Chris H]

Sorry, until the Tories back PR, why am I supposed to care how many votes they got in England?

[Northernhousewife]

Harriet Harman: next Leader of the Labour Party?
Brilliant.
Yes please,

[ChrisD]

"I doubt this editor would allow such comments about Black or Muslim MPs to be published, so why does he allow it against Scots?"

Good point! I am getting heartily sick of the way that the Scots seem fair game on this site for some pretty puerile jokes and name calling. I note that it does not happen to the Welsh or any other group!
I abhor the way that it has been seen as a good attack line because Brown is Scottish, well here's a newsflash, he is no more popular North of the Border than elsewhere.
In fact he will never be as popular as Blair was in Scotland when Labour were riding high in the polls.
In other breaking news, Brown has as much right to be PM as anyone else elected as an MP in the UK, the fact he is lousy at the job should be enough, but to use the fact that he is Scottish is lazy, counter productive and and nasty negative politics at its worst. Lets leave that type of behaviour to the Labour party. Just remember how Ken and his cronies have sought to attack Boris, it does not work and is very unpleasant to watch.

[Jim Mcleod]

ChrisD | April 03, 2008 at 01:50

I whole heartily agree Chris.
In our Constituency the Members of the Caledonian Society is greater than the difference of the numbers needed to make the Constituency a Conservative gain.
Not whilst this Scots bashing keeps going it is not going to become Conservatives.
A lot of Scots settled here and a daily dose of Scots bashing is counter productive.
Please bear in mind although Scots do have a sense of humour they are a very, very proud race of people, generous to a fault and their hospitality towards people know no bounds.
I spend 3 days per fortnight in Scotland so I speak from experience and not hearsay.
One thing all agree about, they may not all like PM Brown but none would call him lazy quite the contrary they see him as an extremely hard workhorse.