ConservativeHome's ToryDiary

Swine 'flu and the Gurkhas dominate exchanges at PMQs

Jonathan Isaby's verdict: A subdued session of PMQs, dominated as it was by swine 'flu and then the Gurkhas. Cameron was right to anticipate Clegg going on the Gurkhas and to take up the issue himself as well; and the Prime Minister's replies to both leaders on the issue were, as Nick Clegg said, "deeply evasive".

12.30pm Tory MP David Gauke highlights Labour manifesto pledge breaches on the EU referendum and tax rises. Brown prays in aid a quote from Ken Clarke on the Lisbon treaty; on tax Brown says that it is right that those who have benefited from increases in income should pay a little more.

12.23pm 1922 committee chairman Sir Michael Spicer asks: "Now that fiscal probity is back in vogue,  why do we need a Labour Government?" Brown reels of a list of statistics in reply.

12.20pm Clegg says the answer comes from someone leading a government without principles.

12.18pm Nick Clegg also raises the Gurkha issues, claiming the PM has been "deeply evasive" in his answers. "If some one is prepared to die for this country, surely they've a right to live in this country?". Brown says he is making progress on the issue and there is "more justice" for the Gurkhas now than there was before 1997.

12.17pm Labour MP Martin Salter adds pressure on Brown to "deliver justice on Gurkhas at last".

12.15pm Cameron says if the figures were robust, then the Gurkhas would not have been gathering outside the Commons and dying as they wait for a response from the Government. He reiterates his proposal to change the Immigration Bill. Brown says of course he will always look at proposals being made. Proposals must be based on proper facts and figures, he said.

12.12pm Cameron says that a new category should be introduced in immigration guidelines for those who have served in the armed forces, primarily aimed at the Gurkhas. Brown does not accept the figure of 100 which the Gurkhas' spokesmen say is how many fit the current government criteria. 

12.10pm Brown says the first action to help the Gurkhas has happened since 1997, creating equal pay and pensions for them, and doubloing the pensions for the pensions for those in Nepal. Brown says he keeps the matter of how many Gukhas to allow to settle in Britain "under review". He points out there ere no rights if settlement pre-1997.

David Cameron and Gordon Brown trade pre-Budget blows on the economy at PMQs

Jonathan Isaby's verdict:

"A solid performance by David Cameron, acting as a warm-up for his response to Darling later on - including that excellent slap down of Brown regarding the activities of advisers".

12.21 Nadine Dorries asks Gordon Brown to apologise for Smeargate. Brown says he has done and that he has written to her and that what happened has no part to play in the politics of this country,

12.17 Brown says that the Chancellor's Budget will answer many of his questions...

12.15 Clegg says that Brown spouts meaningless headlines and promises on which he doesn't deliver. Do the one million new jobs he has promised exist or not?

12.14 Nick Clegg asks about the jobs Brown is promising and asks how many new jobs have been created so far, but gets no substantive reply.

12.12 Cameron has another go at asking the PM to admit that he failed to abolish boom and bust... and Brown again evades it.

12.11 Brown talks again about it being a global banking crisis...

12.09 Brown reels off a list of facts about the recession in the 1990s and teases Cameron for having been Norman Lamont's adviser. Cameron suggests: "perhaps we can talk about some of your chief advisers and what they've been up to". And he invites Brown to admit that he didn't abolish boom and bust.

12.08 Cameron says Brown has shown a complete failure to address the facts. No other country in the G20 has figures as bad as the UK on borrowing. Are we in the deepest recession since the Second World War, Cameron asks.

No killer blows in a low key PMQs

Jonathan Isaby's verdict: "A low key PMQs, with neither Cameron nor Brown firing on full cylinders given the distraction of President Obama et al. A no-score draw in my view".

12.23 Tory David Heathcoat-Amory attacks Brown for having sold off British gold as Chancellor. Brown says it was agreed with banks around the world and that he bought euros "which have now gone up in value".

12.18 Clegg attacks the VAT cut as a mistake; Brown says you have to use all weapons at your disposal and reels off everything the Government is doing.

12.16 Brown says he is dealing with tax havens and that he will do "whatever he can" on green issues.

12.16 Nick Clegg agrees that world leaders need to work together but that Brown needs to practise at home what he preaches abroad, accusing the fiscal stimulus of not being green enough and not acting against tax havens. Doesn't leadership start at home?

12.14 Brown parrots lines about Tory plans to cut child benefit, pensions etc

12.13 No country is following the advice of the Conservative Party, the "do-nothing party of the past". Cameron says that that attack is not helping - the Tory ratings have been increasing since Brown started using it. Cameron again asks about sorting out the pubic finances: isn't the lesson that we should never leave Britain this exposed again?

Harriet Harman refuses to answer William Hague's questions on Mervyn King at PMQs

Jonathan Isaby's verdict: "Another incredibly pedestrian and repetitive performance by Harriet Harman deputising for Brown. William Hague asked her the crucial question of the day - would she agree with Mervyn King on fiscal stimulus - no fewer than three times and she utterly failed to give an adequate answer".

12.25 Is Gordon Brown trying to upstage Harriet Harman?! He is now live on the BBC News Channel addressing an audience in New York!

12.23 Philip Dunne asks why it is the armed forced do not know if they will be getting a pay rise next week. Harman says that the Defence Secretary will doubtless address the issue in a forthcoming Commons debate.

12.22 Tory MP Julian Brazier asks how many foreign terror suspects have been deported; 150, Harman says.

12.17 Cable asks for a tax cut for the lowest paid, but Harman fails to address that point in her answer.

12.16 Harman speaks about the need to work together internationally and decides to mention that Labour made the BoE independent.

12.15 Vince Cable also goes on the BoE governor and asks what freedom of manoeuvre the Government now has.

12.13 Harman again refuses to answer and talks about Brown meeting with world leaders as the Tories go to the fringes of European politics (a reference to the EPP withdrawal) and accuse the party of having a "millionaire's manifesto".

Cameron targets Brown's lethal combination of hyperactivity and ineffectiveness

Verdict: Narrow win for David Cameron although (1) he must stop breaching Commons rules and (2) I think Nick Clegg chose the right topic - the death of patients in Staffordshire because of Government targets.

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.27pm: Bill Cash says the Government's response to the Mid Staffs hospital disgrace is inadequate.  He calls for managers to be replaced and not just suspended on full pay.

12.17pm: Asking the question I expected Cameron to ask, Nick Clegg invites the Prime Minister to accept that his Government's frenzied targets were part of the reason for the deaths at Mid Staffordshire hospital (see also Julia Manning's CentreRight post).  Mr Clegg points to doctors who said they were obliged to abandon the very sick to tend patients with relatively minor ailments.  Brown apologises for the deaths and promises a review to find out what happened.

12.13pm: Labour is displaying a lethal combination of hyperactivity and ineffectiveness says David Cameron. The Speaker orders the Tory leader to withdraw his attack on Gordon Brown as "phoney".  This Government has presided over the fastest rise in unemployment in British history says Cameron and has done so without a hint of apology.  The Tories are wanting to cut spending in a recession, charges Brown, and its first priority on tax is an inheritance tax cut for the very wealthy. 

House of Commons is subdued as David Cameron returns and questions focus on terrorism in Northern Ireland

12.16pm: Nick Clegg asks about EU defence capacity and France's return to NATO.

12.13pm: David Cameron asks about the Binyam Mohamed torture allegations.  Mr Brown says that the Government completely opposes torture and will investigate the allegations made by Mr Mohamed. Pressing the Prime Minister, Mr Cameron calls for a wider investigation that looks at Britain's procedures to protect against torture ever happening. The PM says that the Commons' Security Committee has already looked extensively at these procedures.  [William Hague has written for MailOnline on this subject: "The Government cannot continue to allow these allegations to stand without either answering them unequivocally, or ensuring they can be reviewed impartially and independently.  A judicial inquiry would provide the necessary independence from Government  -  which is essential to restoring public confidence."].

12.08pm: David Cameron returns to PMQs and thanks other MPs, the Prime Minister and people across the nation for their good wishes which has meant a "great deal". The Tory leader attacks the "callous killers" of Northern Ireland.  Speaking in a very low voice in a hushed Commons Mr Brown welcomes Mr Cameron back, welcomes the united attacks of NI's political parties against these acts of terror and promises to do "everything we can" to improve the security of Northern Ireland.

It's 12.03pm and PMQs still hasn't started! Has Michael Martin lost his watch?

Hague trounces Harman at PMQs

With Gordon Brown in the US, David Cameron on compassionate leave and Nick Clegg on paternity leave, it was Harriet Harman, William Hague and Vince Cable stood in for their leaders at PMQs today.

Jonathan Isaby's verdict: A clear win for William Hague, who demonstrated that he retains that command of the House which we so enjoyed and admired at PMQs every week when he was up against Blair as Opposition leader. Harman was out of her depth and kept repeating the same soundbite; Hague anticipated her responses, had some killer facts to throw at her and had far superior rhetoric, one-liners and soundbites.

12.30 Geoffrey Robinson raises a laugh by asking Harman to congratulate his "very good friend in another place" - ie Lord Mandelson, to whom he once lend several hundred thousand pounds.

12.28 Plaid Cymru's Elfyn Llwyd asks who nominated Sir Fred Goodwin for a knighthood and why. Harman says she understands it is was not related to his work in banking, but rather related to the service he had given to the Prince's Trust.

12.25 Tory backbencher Ann Winterton asks if it is true that part-privatisation of the Royal Mail is directly related to orders from the European Union. Harman says not.

Statements from Brown, Hague and Cable to replace PMQs today

As a mark of respect to David Cameron and his family in the wake of the death of his son, Ivan, there will be no weekly Prime Minister's Questions today.

Instead, there will be brief statements from Gordon Brown, William Hague and Vince Cable (who is deputising for Nick Clegg, who is on paternity leave), which we cover below.

Gordon Brown began by paying tribute to those recently killed in action overseas. He then expressed his sorrow at the death of Ivan Cameron, saying he knew "he brought joy to all those around him" He went on: "The death of a child is an unbearable sorrow that no parent should have to endure".

William Hague thanked Gordon Brown for his words on behalf of David Cameron and for initiating the cancelling of PMQs. He added that he had spoken to David Cameron this morning and also passed on gratitude to all the NHS staff and care workers who had cared for Ivan during his short life.

Vince Cable expressed his condolences on behalf of the Lib Dems and his hope that the Camerons would be given the space and privacy to grieve.

Michael Martin then expressed his own sympathies and suspended the Commons as a mark of respect to Ivan until 12.30pm.

Jonathan Isaby

Cameron accuses Brown of incompetence and arrogance at PMQs

EDITORIAL VERDICT: An unmemorable PMQs. Unfocused questions from David Cameron.

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.12pm: Nick Clegg reminds Brown of various broken promises. He accuses the Prime Minister of being a "say anything, do nothing" politician.  [Alan Duncan is overheard repeatedly saying "a very bad hair day" during the Liberal Democrat leader's questions].

12.09pm: This is a government that gets its facts wrong and never apologises, says David Cameron. Incompetence plus arrogance equals two million unemployed.  Brown responds by quoting a previous speech by David Cameron in favour of lower regulation. His judgment is consistently wrong, he says.

12.07pm: Does the PM agree, says David Cameron, with Ed Balls that we are in the worst economic shape for 100 years? The Prime Minister doesn't answer the question but says the Conservative Party opposed the rise in child benefit, in pensions, in infrastructure spending and of a cut in VAT.

12.05pm: No apology about boom and bust. No apology about Britain's deep recession. The bankers apologise.  Why won't the Prime Minister apologise for appointing this man to a senior post? [The Speaker issues a stern warning to David Cameron for another use of "You" towards the Prime Minister].

12.02pm: Does the PM not accept, says David Cameron, that he was guilty of a serious error of judgment in appointing a man to the FSA - Sir James Crosby - who may have fired a HBOS whistleblower? Gordon Brown urges the Conservative Party not to rush to judgment.

Noon: Sir James Crosby has resigned from the FSA. As Nick Robinson notes on BBC1, there are lots of just-in-time-for-PMQs resignations on Wednesday mornings!

Tim Montgomerie

Is 'Tories are talking Britain down' the new attack from Labour?

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.52pm: Martin Day notes Brown's "depression" gaffe.

TIM MONTGOMERIE'S VERDICT: "An unexceptional PMQs with David Cameron and Gordon Brown agreeing on the need to oppose protectionism but Cameron failing to get an apology from the Prime Minister for his British Jobs for British Workers remark.  Gordon Brown ended his final answer to David Cameron with a big attack on the Conservatives for 'talking Britain down'.  I wonder if that's Labour's new attack line?"

12.30pm: Brian Binley notes that a quarter of all council tax is now used for pensions.  He describes this as a "national pension outrage".  Brown says Tories should not attack local authority employees.

12.22pm: Labour MP (don't know who - nor did the BBC or Sky captioners) asks a question about unregulated capitalism while chewing gum.  Unbelievable!

12.15pm: Nick Clegg asks about The Guardian's investigation into British companies avoiding corporation tax.  Isn't it time, he says, for 'British taxes for British companies'?  Brown responds by saying he'll work internationally to clamp down on tax avoidance and wonders why the Liberal Democrats haven't returned a donation from a tax-dodging donor.

The economy dominates another PMQs

Jonathan Isaby's verdict:

No killer blows from David Cameron today, but he certainly scored more highly than Brown. The Prime Minister's twin mantras about how the Tories would "do nothing" and it being a "world recession" are getting a little tedious week after week.

12.30 Sir Peter Tapsell asks about the value of gold today compared with when Brown started selling it as Chancellor. Brown says iut was right to "diversify our portfolio" and points out that he bought euros which are now worth more.

12.29 Andrew Selous (Con): Why has the pound fallen so sharply against the dollar and the euro? Brown cautions against the idea of targeting sterling.

12.21 Nigel Dodds of the DUP raises the "obnoxious" proposal of a £12,000 payment to relatives of victims on all sides in the Ulster conflict. Brown says the Government will consider the relevant report and decide what action to take in due course.

12.19 Graham Stuart (Con) is forced to withdraw a remark suggesting that the Prime tried to cover up MPs' expenses claims last week. He then asks if Brown believes that Labour is whiter than whiter over the "peers for hire" allegations. Brown cites Baroness Royall's article this morning calling for changes to the rules in the Lords.

David Cameron captures the national change of mood on the economy at PMQs

VERDICT: "A clear victory for David Cameron.  Not just because his performance was strong - and it was - but I sense we've reached a tipping point.  The country has realised that all of the massively expensive government activity is not preventing the developed world's worst recession and a potentially devastating loss of international market confidence in the pound and the wider UK economy."

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.25pm: In a ridiculous intervention Dennis Skinner blames "Tory fat cats" for the banking crisis.  In a different times, says the Beast of Bolsover, they'd be called "the enemy within".

12.23pm: Edward Garnier (the man who nearly became Shadow Attorney General) presses the PM again on transparency of MPs' expenses.  It is particularly offensive, he says, for MPs to be hiding their expenses at a time when so many are losing their jobs.

12.18pm: Nick Clegg warns that the UK economy is on the edge of a cliff and Labour's half measures are not helping.  Brown lists Labour's initiatives on recapitalisation, the VAT cut and lending guarantees as consistent with other international governments' initiatives.

12.16pm Cameron concludes his questions by saying that the country has lost confidence in the government and a recovery is impossible without such confidence.  An angry Brown says that Cameron is bringing no new ideas to fighting the recession.  He is out of step, the PM says, with all other world governments and out of his depth.

12.13pm: Cameron asks Brown to confirm that the taxpayer has already lost £20bn on the recapitalisation policy. Brown doesn't answer but responds by saying that the Tories are isolated internationally with no other serious party supporting fiscal restraint at this time.  Cameron comes back with the line that Brown is isolated in Britain as the only person thinking he is doing a good job.

12.10pm: David Cameron says that Brown has been behind the curve on all economic issues.  Conservatives, he continues, have been setting the pace on insuring bank lending and calling for changes to the terms of bank recapitalisation.  Responding to Labour jibes about Ken Clarke he says that the difference between Ken Clarke's legacy and Brown's is that one Chancellor bequeathed a golden legacy and the other wrecked it.  In return, Brown quotes Ken Clarke's words that Tory European policy as "dotty" and "crackpot".    

12.08pm: David Cameron responds by saying that neither did Obama propose a National Insurance-style hike on medium income workers.  Picture of Ken Clarke on Tory frontbench.

12.04pm: Cameron gets to his feet: Today's rise in unemployment, the pound falling and debt rising we have had fresh confirmation that the UK economy is least well-placed to weather the world recession.  What is the Prime Minister's response to a lack of confidence from world markets in the Government's policies?  After listing some of Labour's measures Brown says one thing Obama did not say is 'My fellow Americans, Let's do nothing."

12.02pm: Douglas Carswell MP asks Mr Brown why he is whipping Labour MPs to keep certain expenses details secret.  Why should there be one rule for members of the public and one for MPs?  Brown replies by saying that transparency will be greater in the UK Parliament than in many other legislatures.

I'm hoping for some anger from Mr Cameron today.  I got angry after reading Fraser Nelson's column yesterday in which he struggled to communicate the seriousness of Britain's economic plight.  Mr Cameron could try Policy Exchange's 100 Reasons Britain Needs To Change.

Tim Montgomerie

Economy dominates first PMQs of 2009

Jonathan Isaby's verdict:

"A score draw between Brown and Cameron, I think. The trading of Ken Clarke quotes only serves to bolster my view me that having him in the shadow cabinet would be a very divisive move and cause regular headaches for David Cameron and the Conservative Party. Also interesting to note Gordon Brown trying to play the world statesman by mentioning all the other world leaders he is regularly talking to - five or six got a namecheck today."

Live blog of PMQs

EDITORIAL VERDICT: One of the most uneventful PMQs for some time. ToryBear finds that the Hague is still Tory leader site is owned by William  Hague!

12.20pm Nigel Waterson urges Harriet Harman to address the "nonsense" of the Government assuming 10% interest on savings when pensioners are tested for benefit entitlements. No social group has benefited more from this Government than pensioners replies Labour's Deputy Leader.

12.17pm: Vince Cable asks about home repossessions. The Government's house repossession initiative is only reaching 1-in-10 of those in arrears.   

12.13pm: Unemployment, debt and taxes are rising says Hague, good businesses are going to the wall. If this is what happens when Brown saves the world I dread what will happen when he moves on to the entire solar system. We'd rather have "Superman" leading our party, says Harriet Harman, than a party led "by a joker".  She then jokes about this William Hague website which still describes the current Shadow Foreign Secretary as Leader of the Conservative Party.

12.09pm: This House won't be sitting for another month, says Hague: How many people will lose their jobs while the Government is dithering over whether to underwrite bank lending?  At this crucial time, says Harriet Harman, Tory plans to "cut public spending" will be devastating to the economy. Tory ideas, she says, are not worth the press releases they are printed on.  She then misrepresents Tory policy by saying that the Conservatives are only concerned about lowering interest rates.

12.05pm: In his second question William Hague says that the Government must follow the Conservatives in offering to underwrite bank lending to businesses. Ms Harman lists a variety of measures that the Government is taking to help businesses.

12.03pm: William Hague rises. Why hasn't anyone been arrested for leaking the news of British troops withdrawing from Iraq? After that rhetorical question Mr Hague says that it is clearly time for a full inquiry into the war. There is no excuse for further delay.  Harriet Harman says there will be an inquiry once our fighting forces are home.

PMQs: Brown makes 'We not only saved the world' gaffe

EDITORIAL VERDICT: Clear win for David Cameron. Brown was put on the defensive over underwriting bank lending. DC is determined to make it clear that the Conservatives are not the 'do nothing' party on the economy. But PMQs won't be remembered for the serious exchanges but for Brown's 'We not only saved the world gaffe'. Thanks to Crown Blogspot it's already on YouTube. Watch it here.

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.24pm: Replying to a question from on the programme that will broadcast an assisted suicide, the Prime Minister says he has always opposed legislation to introduce assisted dying. Programmes have a duty to cover these sensitive issues without sensationalism.

12.15pm: Clegg raises the case of a single parent who came to his constituency surgery with young children [before he could go any further there is much laughter - you can guess why] facing legal action because of Brown's "cruel, bureaucratic and confusing" tax credits system. He calls for a new system of simple and fixed payments.  A fixed system, says Brown, would mean that people would not receive extra help when they hit severe difficulties.

12.12pm: Brown is on the wrong side of maths, counters Cameron. Labour is only supporting 0.2% of potential lending to business. Brown has brought Britain to the brink of the deepest recession in the G7. Brown says Tories are not fit for government because they are trapped in the 1980s.

12.10pm: The key issue, reiterates Cameron, is to get bank lending flowing again. That's the Bank of England Governor's view. The VAT cut is pointless. Will the Prime Minister endorse our National Loan Guarantee Scheme? The IoD, CBI and FSB all have. On the day that Labour is copying Tory welfare ideas this is another idea that the Government should copy. Brown says that Labour already operate schemes that underwrite financing to businesses. Nothing will help the economy, the PM concludes, without a supporting fiscal stimulus. The Tories are on the wrong side of history.

12.08pm: If things are going so well why is the Council of Mortgage Lenders talking about about "conflicted" government policies? Brown says Tories would let recession take its course.

12.06pm: David Cameron says all over the country there are businesses having overdraft facilities withdrawn. The world is NOT copying the details of the Government's recapitalisation plan. The Government is lending to banks at 12% but insisting that they lend at 6%. Brown responds by defending his fiscal stimulus. The Tories are clinging to the failed policies of the 1980s, he says.

12.04pm: David Cameron asks about getting bank lending flowing again. Recapitalisation's main aim was to get credit flowing again and it has failed. Brown replying accidentally says "we not only saved the world"! Hysterical laughter from Tory benches.

Tim Montgomerie

A solid performance from David Cameron at PMQs

Jonathan Isaby's verdict: Time and again Brown refused to admit the extent of the debt into which he is taking the country and was forced to accept, under questioning from David Cameron, that the VAT rise to 18.5% had effectively been considered. A solid and confident perfomance by Cameron, whom I would deem to have won the encounter, albeit not by a huge margin.   

12.29pm Tory MP David Jones asks why the value of the £ against the $ has fallen by a quarter since July. Brown uses the same line as at a recent PMQs, when he said Lady Thatcher said that Britons should never talk down the currency.

12.28pm The Speaker prevents Brown from quoting Andrew Lansley again.

12.28pm Tory MP Douglas Carswell tries to get Brown to admit that national debt will double to £1 trillion, as David Cameron had done unsuccessfully before. But he wouldn't, merely saying that the figures were oin the PBR.

12.22pm Nicholas Soames seeks an assurance that the defence budget not be cut. Brown does not give a straight answer.

12.20pm Brown announces that April 2nd will see the next meeting of the G20 in London and that President Obama expects to be there.

12.19pm Labour backbencher Ian Davidson reopens the class war by saying those born with silver spoons in their mouths can't understand the problems of most people.

12.17pm Cleggs says Brown's answer was bluster and calls for fair tax cuts by closing pensions loopholes for millionaires, for example, saying he toyed with the hope of British people and let them down.

12.15pm Nick Clegg says Alistair Darling's PBR included the word fairness eight times, but that it wasn't fair.

12.12pm Brown's pre-prepared taunt at Cameron is that he s a "do nothing leader of a do nothing party".

12.11pm Soundbites of the day from Cameron: "This Prime Minister has given us the debt levels of Italy and the accounting practices of Enron" and "The country's going bankrupt, he's be found out and New Labour is dead".

12.10pm Cameron compares debt levels to those seen when Denis Healey was Chancellor. Brown again asserts that the Tories want to do absolutely nothing and let the recession take it course.

1 2.09pm Brown taunts Cameron with a quote from Andrew Lansley that recession "Could be good for us". Cameron points out that Lansley has apologised - unlike Brown for what he has done to the economy.

12.08pm Cameron repeats the question about doubling the national debt.

12.06pm DC asks whether Brown's plans double the national debt. Brown replies by saying that it will still be lower as a proportion of GDP than many other European countries.

12.04pm Cameron quotes the VAT document that was available on the internet. He says the party may make some FoI requests on the issue, asking if an even higher rise was considered. Brown says all kinds of things were considered and instead asks what the Toires would do. DC says he'd freeze council tax and various other schemes the Tories have announced.

12.03pm David Cameron asks why the treasury minister signed the document suggesting a VAT rise to 18.5%. Brown claims he has learnt lessons from when the Tories raised VAT in the past.

12.01pm Long-serving Tory MP Sir Peter Tapsell kicks things off by asking for an apology from Brown for wrecking the British economy. 'Tis not forthcoming...

Jonathan Isaby

Cameron takes on Brown over the economy at PMQ

Jonathan Isaby's verdict: A far calmer session than last week, and no surprise that David Cameron went on the economy. No knockouts on either side - a score draw in my view.

12.30pm Final question is from Jamie Reed (Lab, Copeland) who merely asks whether the spending plans from the Tories would be bad for the country. The Speaker should have ruled it out of order, but doesn't.

12.29pm Mark Durkan of the SDLP asks about pensioners suffering in these difficult economic times and Brown suggests that extra resources are needed to help them and that the Tories are unwilling to do so.

12.26pm Tory Andrew Selous points out that whilst employment of British workers has reduced by 300,000, employment of migrant workers has gone up by 900,000.   

12.22pm Alistair Burt doesn't hear the Speaker calling him and has to be prompted for a second time to ask his question.

12.21pm Patsy question of the day is from Labour's Anne Begg, who congratulates the PM on the recent announcement on the post office card account.

12.18pm Brown says it is, but Clegg, unconvinced, asks for ways of lending more serious money to businesses.

12.16pm Nick Clegg has had a haircut. He asks if the bank bail-out is working.

12.14pm Brown repeats the suggestion that Labour wants to help people through the economic difficulties and the Conservatives do not. 

12.12pm Brown suggests that Tory plans will hamper people trying to cope in the difficult economic circumstances. Cameron quotes former government economic adviser Derek Scott as having said that it was "drivel" that the recession was not the Government's making.

12.10pm No answer forthcoming from Brown, Cameron tells the House that Brown "loves to lecture on economics, but it's all about the politics". he adds that the Tory plans for spending restraint are the right thing to do.

12.09pm Cameron then suggests that it is clear the Government wants to go on a "borrowing binge". He asks Brown if taxes will have to rise.

12.07pm Brown says he will look into any individual cases of which Cameron has knowledge, but in general will do all he can to help companies get loan capital. Cameron accuses him of not answering his question.

12.05pm Cameron then raises concerns coming from small businesses about being charged exorbitant amounts for overdraft facilities or losing them altogether.

12.03pm David Cameron thanks Brown for giving him the inquiry he asked for into Baby P.

12.01pm In answer to a question from Tory Philip Dunne about the devaluation of the pound, Brown prays in aid the advice of Margaret Thatcher, saying that she said that it was "un-British" to talk down the pound.

---

Last week David Cameron used all six questions on the issue of Baby P and the failures of Haringey children's services.

In the wake of his latest pronouncements on spending and taxation, one might expect him to tackle the economy today.

We'll be live-blogging today's encounter at noon.

Punters flock back to Tories after yesterday's PMQs

That's the observation of an insightful post at PoliticalBetting.

We all need to remember that Brown may be winning plaudits for his response to the economic crisis but the next election will be decided on a wide range of issues - immigration, crime, social breakdown and a powerful sense of it being 'a time for a change'.  Cameron proved yesterday that he has the range of skills to win the big debates.  That's why we are confident that - with constant dedication - the Conservatives will triumph whenever the election comes.

Cameron and Brown clash at PMQs over Baby P

Jonathan Isaby's verdict: A relatively rowdy session during which the Speaker had to slap down Labour MPs for barracking David Cameron as he raised a very serious point about the investigation into children's services at Haringey council. Brown's decision to accuse Cameron of making party political points clearly angered Cameron, and seemed to persuade him to drop his questions about the economy in favour of pursuing the points on Haringey. Brown failed to answer the substantive point every time it was put and allowed Cameron to come out on top.

12.29pm Tory 1922 committee chairman Sir Michael Spicer asks a brilliant, short, sharp question: "What was the economic theory behind the end of boom and bust?" Brown's reply was waffle.

12.28pm Brown mocks George Osborne and Tory policy over the fuel duty stabiliser in answer to a patsy question from Labour's Mark Todd.

12.27pm Labour backbencher Andy Slaughter raises his concerns about the third runway at Heathrow, with Brown saying that yesterday's Commons debate was an important opportunity to debate the issues.

12.26pm Tory James Arbuthnot raises the issue of the post office credit account and Brown claims the Government is doing all they can to support the Post Office network.

12.24pm Lib Dem Greg Mulholland highlights the level of funding of research into dementia as "appalling" but Brown claims that more money is being invested in all kinds of medical research.

12.20pm The SNP's Angus Roberston asks for British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq and for an inquiry into the war.

12.18pm Lib Dem Bob Russell asks about giving British residency rights to Gurkhas; Brown says the Government is studying the recent high court judgment on the issue.

12.17pm Labour MP Claire Curtis-Thomas expresses disappointment that Lord Mandelson has withdrawn an offer to meet her and constituents to discuss an issue; Brown says he is sure Mandelson would be happy to see her.

12.16pm Clegg repeats his demand for tax cuts for ordinary people; Brown repeats his attack on Lib Dem policy.

12.15pm Nick Clegg asks why anyone should believe what Gordon Brown says on tax. Brown says that if he'd listened to the Lib Dems, he'd be cutting public spending by £20 billion this year.

12.13pm Cameron again asks the substantive question as to whether it is wrong for someone to be investigating their own department's conduct. Brown again fails to give a straight answer to the question.

12.11pm The Speaker has to call for order as Cameron again demands Brown withdraw the accusation that Cameron was playing party politics.   

12.08pm Brown fails to give a straight answer, instead accusing Cameron of trying to make it into a patry political issue. Cameron calls that remark "cheap" and asks Brown to withdraw it.

12.05pm Cameron asks about the Baby P case, wondering if Brown agrees that it is unacceptable that the person in charge of the childrens' services department is investigating her own department. Brown prevaricates and Cameron attempts to ask the question a third time.

12.04pm Cameron: "Only the Prime Minister could be quite so smug on the day that 142,000 people lost their jobs"

12pm Tory Richard Ottaway asked if Gordon Brown would buck the historical trend and that unemployment would be lower when Labour leave office than when they came to office. Brown claimed to have created 3 million jobs and mocked the Tories for having previously described unemployment as being "a price worth paying".

David Cameron: Did you tell the President-Elect that this is no time for a novice?

EDITORIAL VERDICT: David Cameron's confidence seemed to be back today. He hit hard Gordon Brown hard and successfully for the 'no time for a novice line'. Overall a clear victory to the Tory leader. Well done to Nick Clegg, too, for highlighting the potency of Barack Obama's tax-cutting message.

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.22pm: Bernard Jenkin asks why the Government doesn't force the banks it owns to pass on rate cuts to consumers. Brown replies that he wants the banks to pass on rate cuts.

12.17pm: Nick Clegg says that the central policy of Barack Obama was to cut taxes for the low-paid, funded by the wealthy. When can Britain have the same? Brown says Obama did not fight the election on £20bn of spending cuts (the LibDem policy).

12.15pm: On the day America voted for change, says Cameron, how long will the British people have to put up with more of the same?  Americans, retorts the PM, voted for progressive politics - including a fiscal stimulus, tax credits, regulation of pensions and tax credits - all opposed by the Conservatives.

12.13pm: The only change the Tories represent, says Brown, is a change of policy every week.

12.10pm: Brown laughs at Cameron quoting the EU. Lists other nations that are in recession. Says total overall debt isn't as bad as David Cameron suggests.

12.05pm: David Cameron joins the congratulations to Barack Obama and congratulates John McCain on his campaign, too. America is a beacon of hope, opportunity and change says David Cameron. Did the PM tell the President-Elect that this was no time for a novice? Brown gets up to interrupt. "You" voted for no change when you bottled the election, he continues, pointing that the Labour benches. He then asks a question about the recession and why Britain is so badly prepared for it. Our recession is forecast to be deeper, he says, quoting EU analysis - beating only Estonia and Latvia. Two countries that escaped the grip of Stalin. We're still in it.

12.02pm: Loud cheers as Brown welcomes Barack Obama's election and looks forward to a continuing close relationship between Britain and America.

PMQs dominated by questions of debt and borrowing

VERDICT: Another poor PMQs that taught us little about what the Government or Opposition will do to tackle the recession. Brown was at its worst in not answering questions but Cameron did not deliver any big blows.

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.17pm: Philip Hollobone asks the PM to condemn the Black Police Association for discouraging ethnic minorities from joining the Met. Brown replies by promising to look into the matter.  (David Davies MP delivered the message to the Black Police Association yesterday that it was behaving irresponsibly).

12.15pm: Sir George Young asks why the House of Commons sits so infrequently. Brown says he has given Parliament more powers - including approval of the nation going to war.

12.13pm: Nick Clegg calls for the PM to distinguish between good public spending and any public spending.  The LibDem leader calls for big tax reliefs for people on ordinary incomes - paid for by closing tax loopholes.  The PM says that the LibDem policy of cutting £20bn from public spending is the wrong policy for this time.

12.10pm: The Prime Minister has been caught red-handed, spinning that he would be spending to get out of recession but having no plan to do so.  The Prime Minister's irresponsible boom has become a bust.  Brown counters that the Tories have no policy to take Britain out of recession.  They are not ready for Government, he concludes.

12.08pm: Cameron asks if the PM believes that you can spend your way out of recession?  Brown doesn't answer.  Cameron then reminds him of words from 1997 when he said that you "can't spend your way out of recession". 

12.06pm: David Cameron says that Brown's fiscal rules have been broken.  Brown responds by saying that the Tory position on borrowing is unclear.  The Tories don't know if they favour more borrowing or less.

12.04pm: David Cameron says it's impossible to believe that we're not in a bust when 120 homes are being repossessed every day and the Bank is forecasting that 1.2 million will be in negative equity. If he can't admit his errors noone will listen to him about the future. Brown attacks Cameron for partisanship and for failing to end Punch and Judy politics.

12.02pm: David Cameron asks (again) if the PM still thinks he has abolished boom and bust. The PM responds by recording key Labour 'achievements'.

Live blog of PMQs from noon: Cameron challenges Brown on return of 'boom and bust'

VERDICT: "Cameron edged it but only just. Brown is more confident when the subject matter is the economy. David Cameron needs to refine his economic critique. It is plausible for Brown to say that voters won't believe that Labour caused Britain's economic problems. Most will see the recession as a global phenomenon. The Conservatives must focus their attack on Labour's failure to leave much room for Britain to take recession-averting actions. Not a good day for The Speaker either. Dennis Skinner has a record of attacking Osborne. In calling him Michael Martin was inviting the attack on George Osborne that the 'Beast of Bolsover' did indeed make. The Speaker also called more MPs from the non-Tory opposition backbenches than from the Tory backbenches."

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.30pm: Dennis Skinner raises the Osborne issue: Can the PM promise that he won't approach Russian billionaires to rescue the Labour finances?  The PM replies by saying that this is a serious manner and should be investigated.

12.27pm: Graham Stringer invites the PM to cancel plans for a congestion charge for Greater Manchester and simply bring forward investment in the tram system. The PM doesn't answer the question.

12.21pm: John Whittingdale invites the Prime Minister to reinstate Empty Property Relief.

12.19pm: Nick Clegg says the Government is all at sea on economic policy - even if it isn't on a luxury yacht (boom! boom!). Brown says the Government will look at all ideas that will help the economy. He attacks the LibDems for promising £20bn of cuts in public services.

12.17pm: Nick Clegg asks what the Government will do to help the real economy.  Will it wait until things are as bad as they got for the banks?  What, in particular, will the Government do about fuel poverty?  Brown makes a joke about Nick Clegg not knowing the real level of the pension.  Vince Cable smiles naughtily at this joke! 

12.15pm: Brown says the issue is the judgment of David Cameron and the Shadow Chancellor. Neither he says are offering any real solutions to Britain's economic problems.

12.11pm: The Prime Minister asks me to name the causes of recession, we're looking at them says David Cameron - pointing at the Labour benches.  He invites the PM to again admit that he hasn't abolished 'boom and bust'.  Brown again doesn't answer the question and says that noone other than the Opposition believes that this is a UK-made recession.

12.09pm: David Cameron: For years the Chancellor talking about prudence with a purpose, now it's borrowing without limit.  Will the Prime Minister finally admit that he didn't abolish 'boom and bust'.  Brown replies by accusing Cameron of talking down the economy.

12.06pm: Cameron says the problem with Labour's borrowing was that it was undertaken in good times.  He says too much of Britain's debts are off balance sheet, notably PFI.  "Britain is being governed by a master of dodgy accounting".  Half of OECD nations have surpluses that they can use to beat recession.  Does he not regret that Britain does not?

12.04pm: Cameron rises with Osborne sat next to him.  Cameron asks if it was a mistake to have such high borrowing. Brown replies by saying that Britain can afford to borrow because it has such low overall debt levels.

Noon: Brown announces something on repossessions. Missed the detail.

Back to the real issues at PMQs?

Tim Montgomerie writes:

The Westminster village loved yesterday.  After weeks of heavy economics stories they could get back to what they loved most; a story of Westminster intrigue and personality clashes.

I don't like George Osborne's choice of holiday company - nor his briefing against Peter Mandelson after a private dinner - but Conservatives should not be under any illusions that Labour hates George Osborne and would love to bring down our master strategist - a case I make on GuardianOnline.

Much more coverage was given to the fact that George Osborne hadn't received a donation from Russia's richest man (and denied soliciting one) than was given to the previous day's story that Britain is borrowing more than at any time since the 1930s.

David Cameron has the opportunity to change the focus again today at PMQs.  My hope is that he gets angry on behalf of the British people stuffed by Labour's economic mismanagement.  Labour's failure to put money away for a rainy day means that there is very little room to boost the economy.  A tough recession now looks inevitable.  He should bring to the Commons the stories of small business people, homeowners, exporters, local councils and taxpayers who face enormous difficulties because of Labour's mismanagement.  He should get real and a little bit angry.

Live blog of PMQs from noon

 

12.27pm Harman reassures a Labour backbencher that government spending on public services and benefits will not be impacted by the credit crunch. A few minutes later she states that the government's aim of abolishing child poverty by 2020 would also be unaffected.

12.24pm Conservative MP Philip Davies argues that the Prime Minister egged on the housing bubble by claiming to have ended boom and bust. Will he now accept some of the blame for the financial problems Davies' constituents face? Harman says the problems are global, and not to be blamed either on those who have bought homes in the last decade or on the Prime Minister.

12.20pm Conservative MP David Borrowes asks if, following the bail out of banks, the government will now compensate Equitable Life policy holders? Harman responds that the difference is the government's measures to protect banks were taken not to help individuals but to prevent an overall economic collapse. Crispin Blunt follows up on this question two minutes later, blaming the government's regulatory framework for the problems Equitable Life failed. Harman argues that prior to this government, there were seven separate regulatory agencies, since rightly merged into one, the Financial Services Authority.

Live blog of PMQs from noon

VERDICT: "Given the Tories' decision to back Labour's bailout David Cameron had little room for political opportunity today and chose a bipartisan path. On another occasion the Conservatives must make it clear that Labour has left Britain more vulnerable than most other economies to the global financial chaos. Labour must not be allowed to disguise its own serious errors behind that chaos for much longer.  But that is for another day.  Brown was in command of PMQs today."

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.19pm: Nick Clegg backs Government's package. Says when a ship is sinking you don't ask who steered it towards rocks, only to help reach for the lifeboats. Brown says he spoke to President Bush yesterday and there will be a meeting of international leaders soon. Clegg concludes by calling for tax cuts for low income workers. Brown replies by quoting existing government assistance programmes including the Winter Fuel Allowance and action on pre-payment electricity meters.

12.13pm: Cameron asks what action will be taken to stop banks paying bumper bonuses.  Conditions will be added replies Brown and the FSA will be issuing wide guidance on how remuneration packages should manage risk.  Cameron comes back on this issue twice; warning against "rewards for failure".  The Tory leader then asks for the Bank of England to have new powers to oversee debt levels in the economy.

12.08pm: The real test of the success of these measures says David Cameron is that small businesses and homebuyers can access money again.  How will the PM be measuring progress?  Gordon Brown replies that Government is aiming to pay Small and Medium-sized Enterprises within ten days to help their cashflow.

12.06pm: David Cameron gets up.  Says that the banking system is so important to the whole economy that it cannot be allowed to fail.  Brown thanks David Cameron for his support.

12.05pm: Gerald Kaufman refers to Gordon Brown as "my Prime Minister"!

Noon: INTEREST RATES HAVE JUST BEEN CUT BY 0.5%.

Greg Hands wants David Cameron to go in hard.