ConservativeHome's ToryDiary

Live PMQs blog from noon

EDITORIAL VERDICT: "Another very dull performance from Gordon Brown.  Being the last PMQs until October, David Cameron chose to tour both the government's most difficult issues - higher VED, the 10p row, knife crime - AND some of his favourite critiques - the PM is a ditherer, treats people as fools, does things on the sly.  Good knockabout but not particularly edifying."

Watch the exchanges here.

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.11pm: Clegg warns that a Winter of Discontent may be just around the corner.  He invites Gordon Brown to take the summer off and rethink his strategy.  Gordon Brown said something dull in reply.

12.08pm: Cameron asks why the PM hid in his bunker when the Commons last debated MPs' benefits and pay.  I'm beginning to think the only thing in Downing Street with a spine is his book on courage, he jibes.  Brown says Cameron runs away from the tough decisions, whether on terrorism, nuclear power, education until 18.  This is a Conservative Party that has no substance.

12.07pm: Cameron asks if the cancellation of a 2p increase in fuel duty has anything to do with the Glasgow by-election.  The PM says no.  Cameron responds by saying that, yet again, the PM is treating people like fools - saying that the u-turn on 10p had nothing to do with Crewe and Nantwich and the u-turn on the autumn 2007 election had nothing to do with the polls.

12.04pm: Mr Cameron moves on to invite the PM to say that he was wrong to say that most people would be better off from changes to car tax.  Won't he admit that he was wrong?  Brown says Cameron must get real about taking the tough choices that the environment demands.  Cameron replies by saying that the VED changes aren't a green tax, but a stealth tax.

12.02pm: David Cameron asks who came up with the bright idea to march knife criminals into A&E wards to meet their victims?  Why can't the PM be straight with people and say who came up with idea?  The PM won't get decent policies until he improves his policy formulation process.  Brown doesn't answer but talks generally about tougher sentences for crime.

This will be the last PMQs until October.

Live PMQs blog from noon

Editorial verdict: "A clear victory for William Hague.  He asked serious questions about depositor protection and Ms Harman replied with political knockabout."

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.15pm: William Hague gets up for his second set of questions and highlights waste of food in Government departments.  Isn't there something ridiculous about being lectured on food waste by a Prime Minister who has passed his sell-by date?  Harriet Harman responds with a jibe about William Hague's "18 pints" (although it was only 14!).  Quick as a flash William assures the House that none of his pints were wasted!  William Hague ends by saying he wishes her well in her campaign to replace the PM.  She replies by saying that there are not enough airports in the country to accommodate the men who would want to leave the country if she became PM.

12.08pm: Uneventful exchange between Vince Cable - in which he says housing market faces worst crisis in "our lifetimes" - and Ms Harman on the economy.   This is the real issue, says Cable, and criticises Brown and Cameron for competing to be the "weightwatcher-in-chief".

12.05pm: Mr Hague offers help from the Conservatives in passing deposit protection laws speedily before the summer recess.  Ms Harman responds by knocking the Conservatives' record on the economy before 1997.  Hague: If she wants to be PM, she ought to start acting like one.  Harriet Harman wonders (again) why Theresa May isn't standing in for David Cameron as she is her opposite number as Shadow Leader of the House.  Ms Harman advises Theresa May to cross Lambeth bridge and apply to be a woman bishop.  Bizarre!

12.03pm: William Hague rises and asks when the Government intends to legislate for increased depositor protection during this time of financial turbulence.  Flanked by Alistair Darling Harriet Harman makes general remarks about the economy but doesn't answer the specific point.

It's Harriet Vs Hague again today with Gordon Brown at the G8 summit.  HH did quite well last time and another good showing might boost her unofficial leadership campaign.

PMQs: Cameron asks about vote bribes and early-release prisoners

12.06pm: Chris Bryant criticised the UN's lack of action on Zimbabwe, Brown doesn't address the UN issue so much but refers to Mugabe's unacceptable "blood-stained regime". Cameron said he agreed with every single word of what Brown said about Zimbabwe.

12.08pm: Cameron asks if Brown stands by his statement that no-one was bribed to vote for 42 day detention. Brown answered simply: "yes". Cameron then cited a letter from Chief Whip Geoff Hoon to Keith Vaz (Chairman of Home Affairs Select Committee) thanking him for voting for 42 days and saying that he trusted he would be "appropriately rewarded". Brown said he was just being thanked for voting the right way. Yet again, Cameron asked "why can't he give a straight answer to a straight question".

12.12pm: Nick Clegg asked about the inexcusable "mental health crisis".

12.16pm: Cameron asks why Brown hasn't stopped dangerous criminals being released from prison early. Brown said he's stepped up checks. Cameron said he warned him about this a year ago, and quoted a probation officer saying that as far as he could see nothing had been done since last year. The letter Cameron referred to has now been published by the Telegraph, so presumably he had the inside track.

PMQs: Cameron asks Brown to guarantee that he won't weaken Tory union reforms

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.18pm: If you want to ask questions call an election, Cameron responds.  Brown says the Conservatives aren't making the big decisions.  He says Labour have made all the big decisions on nuclear power, airport expansion and housing.  David Cameron, he says, ducks all the big decisions.  You can get away without substance some of the time, but not all of the time.  The Conservatives are only offering opposition for opposition's sake.

12.16pm: David Cameron says "no plans" doesn't mean anything from a PM who said he had "no plans" to raise taxes.  This is a PM who is about to sit down with the unions - the unions who provide 92% of Labour income - and the unions only see weakness when they look at Brown and know he'll lurch to the left if they push hard enough.

12.15pm: In David Cameron's second set of questions he turns to industrial relations and asks for a categorical assurance that Conservative union reforms won't be weakened.  Brown says he has "no plans" to change union laws but invites the Conservative leader to say that he will commit to three year public sector pay deals.

12.11pm: Before he became PM, people thought he was a man of principle says Nick Clegg.  Will Mr Brown meet the Gurkhas who are surrendering their medals today in protest?  The PM responds by saying that the Government is improving pension arrangements for serving and some retired Gurkha servicemen.  The LibDem leader says that the PM is missing the real issue.  Gurkhas have to rely on charity and risk deportation because this Government won't give so many of them citizenship.

12.07pm: Cameron says EU sanctions must mean visa bans and asset freezes on the families of the regime as well as the regime leaders themselves.  He also says that businesses have a responsibility to divest from Zimbabwe if they are sustaining the regime.  Brown says that more moves are being taken to identify every member of the "criminal cabal" surrounding Zimbabwe and subject them to the overall sanctions regime.

12.05pm: David Cameron welcomes sporting sanctions against Zimbabwe and asks what it practically means to end recognition of Zimbabwe.  Brown says Britain is bound by international laws and can't completely ignore the legal fact that Mugabe remains Zimbabwe's head of state.  Says lots of other things but doesn't answer question.

12.03pm: David Cameron asks about Zimbabwe. Calls for G8 - due to be attended by South Africa - to have declaration on Zimbabwe that commits S Africa to tougher line.  Brown promises to raise the issue at every international gathering. 

Cameron at PMQs: It would be ridiculous to ask the Irish people to vote twice when the British people haven't voted once

1.30pm: Watch highlights of the exchanges.

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.26pm: Great question from Michael Spicer: Why are there always so many strikes at the end of a Labour government?

12.23pm: In response to a question from Labour's backbenches Gordon Brown says that the Conservatives are taking risks with the fight against crime and against terrorism by questioning the value of the DNA database and of CCTV.

12.15pm: Nick Clegg urges the PM to enact a windfall tax on the energy companies so that poorer households can be given better insulation and smart meters.  Brown says that the Government is already doing much to help poorer families with their energy bills.

12.12pm: Cameron calls for leadership from Brown but jokes that there is more spine in jellyfish than on Labour's frontbench.  Brown quotes Ken Clarke's view that a referendum would be "crackpot", "dotty" and "absurd".  He urges David Cameron to lead his party away from the Euroscepticism of the Conservative backbenches.

12.10pm: The Irish people have spoken.  They've said "no" says David Cameron.  What part of "no" doesn't he understand?  Brown responds by reminding the House of John Major's words when he urged continued ratification of Maastricht after the Danes had said "no".

12.09pm: Wouldn't it "ridiculous" and "high-handed" Cameron continues, to ask the Irish to vote twice when the people of Britain haven't had an opportunity to vote once?  Have the courage to declare it dead, urges the Tory leader.

PMQs: 42 days dominates

2pm: Watch the Brown V Cameron exchanges on 42 days

EDITORIAL COMMENT: "A very high quality PMQs with both Brown and Cameron performing well.  We would obviously preferred not to have been quoted by the PM in the same way we wish we weren't at odds with our party on this issue but our earlier editorial was carefully worded, not least in saying our view was a very controversial view within the party."

12.27pm: Michael Howard asks about the prejudicing of any trial of a terrorist suspect if, as under the draft legislation, Parliament discusses his/ her case.

12.20pm: Nick Clegg also asks about 42 days.  The PM quotes back another survey which suggests there is popular support for 42 days and understanding that terrorist cases are increasingly complex and time consuming.

12.16pm: Gordon Brown quotes a host of sources in support of 42 days including this website.  David Cameron responds by saying that he'll always do the right thing, not just because something is popular.

12.12pm: David Cameron says we shouldn't trash our liberties in trying to defend ourselves from terrorism.  The PM responds by saying that the Chief of Police in Northern Ireland doesn't need lectures from David Cameron in how to fight terrorism.  David Cameron responds by saying that the first MP he worked for was killed by terrorism and he will never be weak in the fight against terrorism.

12.10pm: David Cameron asks about 42 days and the DPP's concerns.  Brown responds by pointing to support from the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Lord Stevens and the head of policing in Northern Ireland.

12.09pm: David Cameron states that Afghanistan should be Britain's number one foreign and security policy.

12.05pm: David Cameron invites the PM to make a candid statement about the situation in Afghanistan.  The PM replies that the number of children in education has trebled in the country and that it is vital that we stop the Taliban from retaking control.  He also says - in response to another question from David Cameron - that he is happy to give regular progress reports to Parliament.   He denies David Cameron's suggestion that things are going backwards and insists there is progress overall.   

Noon: The Prime Minister says that he'll leave the schoolboy politics to Greg Hands after the Tory MP for Hammersmith & Fulham asks the PM about a statement on the Downing Street website about Brown being popular at school and now being the most unpopular PM in history.

PMQs liveblog: Personal blows exchanged as Cameron takes Brown to task over tax on motorists

12.03pm: Following the tributes, Cameron begins by saying that "the next tax hike planned by the government" is to "hit family cars with massive increases in vehicle excise duty". Brown says a majority of drivers will benefit from the proposal. Cameron - who incidentally has returned to having his hair in a central parting - replies: "When will the Prime Minister learn that these taxes should be offset by tax cuts for families".

12.04pm: "Once again, dodgy statistics from the Prime Minister. Can he tell us why the Chancellor in his budget speech made no mention that the tax would hit people who bought their car seven years ago?".

12.09pm: Cameron hits out at Labour jeering by asking why they were having a go at him when it was the Prime Minister "who has given you the lowest poll rating since Michael Foot". Asks again when Brown will stop using dodgy figures. Brown dredges up the story of Cameron cycling with a car behind him and calls him a used car salesman. Killer line from Cameron in response: "It's not my backbenchers that are telling me to get on my bike".

12.12pm: Brown repeatedly targets Cameron's credibility on the environment, saying he is running away from it as an issue. This is clearly a line of attack Labour are going to keep using. Cameron refers to Cabinet Ministers saying Brown had "made terrible misjudgments" and was "crap at communication", then to much laughter asks MPs who they thought it was who said the government was being buffeted by storms. Finishes off with a line on the car tax and Labour morale: "Doesn't he realise that if he doesn't get rid of it, they will get rid of him?". A very personal exchange.

12.14pm: Nick Clegg asks what message it sends that Mugabe has a knighthood and calls for it to be stripped away (a call that featured prominently in the Conservative conference in Blackpool). Brown says we should concentrate on substantial measures rather than gestures.

Live PMQs blog from noon

12.45pm: Video of the Brown-Cameron exchanges

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.30pm: Gordon Brown ends by warning that he will be examining the performance of Conservative councils over coming months - particularly how they help the elderly.

12.27pm: Brooks Newmark MP asks for the PM's view on the fact that domestic violence incidents has trebled to over 600,000 incidents each year.  [What a shocking statistic].

12.15pm: Nick Clegg asks about Afghanistan following his recent visit there.  It might take thirty years, he says, to rebuild the nation and does more need to be done to persuade the British people of the need for a long-term commitment?  He calls for the UK Defence Budget to be strategically reviewed.

12.12pm: Cameron responds by quoting Tony Blair who said that he didn't understand the tradition that PMs didn't attend by-elections.  Brown says that David Cameron never asks substantial questions.

12.11pm: Cameron: Why hasn't the PM had the courage to go to Crewe and Nantwich to explain his views on 10p?  Brown replies by saying that it's not usual for a PM to go to a by-election.

Live PMQs blog from noon

12.42pm: Thanks to PoliticsHome.com here is a YouTube of the main Brown V Cameron exchanges:

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.29pm: Richard Bacon asks the PM to name and shame the nations blocking progress on Burma at the UN.  Brown declines to do so but says that the Government is doing all it can to overcome the blockage.

12.27pm: Greg Hands MP notes that Boris Johnson has got off to a flying start; banning alcohol on the tube, planting 10,000 more trees and reviewing City Hall finances.  Why hasn't Gordon Brown rung him to congratulate the new Mayor?  Brown says he congratulated Boris in the House last week.  Not quite true.  He merely welcomed him to the Commons.

12.25pm: In reply to a planted question from Nigel Griffiths MP, Brown says that voters will never forget that the Conservatives are the party of three million unemployed, 15% interest rates and record home repossessions.  Labour is the party that will intervene to defend the poor, he continues.   

12.22pm: Nicholas Winterton attacks Brown's taxation of motorists, noting that UK drivers are the most taxed in Europe.  The PM quotes Steve Norris back at him and his argument that taxation of cars needs to rise.

PMQs: Brown challenged on Scottish referendum and early-release schemes

1.15pm: Our summary (view the chatroom below it for many more comments)...

To much cheering Brown welcomed the "new Mayor of London to the House", Cameron joined the PM in congratulating Boris - who was in the House - on "his magnificent victory". The Labour benches were understandably quiet today.

• Shailesh Vara MP got the first question and asked if Brown could use his experience at unseating a sitting Prime Minister to estimate how long he has got left? Later, Nigel Evans asked if Brown understood how angry people were about the tax increases and if he will propose ditching them before his colleagues ditch him. And James Gray added to the taunts in asking if he ever wonders why on earth he took the job.
• Cameron, looking very much at ease throughout, asked about Wendy Alexander's comments about having an independence referendum, accuses Brown of being out of touch with reality saying "It's not leadership if nobody is following him" and "The one thing people thought about the PM is that he was quite a good political fixer, but now he is losing control of his Labour Party".
• Cameron moved on to early-release prisoners: "Every week more prisoners are going to be released because of his early-release scheme, the PM isn't listening to people on crime... If the PM is serious about listening to people will he now scrap it?"
• Brown's answers to most points are so repetitive and irrelevant as to be rarely worth repeating. He talked again of Cameron's "slick statesmanship" but Cameron turned it around by referring to Brown's not-so-slick salesmanship when he flogged the country's gold reserves, and told him to give up PR and focus on being PM. He also re-used the discredited line about there being a £10bn "blackhole" in Tory tax plans. Tory backbenchers waved goodbye to Brown during last question
• Clegg asked for concrete proposals on the 10p rate, "when it comes to helping the needy [Brown] has got no principles, the Tories have got no policies".

Live blog of last PMQs before Brown's Mayday

EDITORIAL VERDICT: Lots of Punch & Judy politics from Mr Brown today. Another poor performance by Nick Clegg.  David Cameron did well enough but his choice of topic wouldn't have been ours.  We would have hammered Brown on tax again - particularly after this morning's Times revealed that "tens of thousands of families will have to pay up to £245 extra a year under new road tax rules after a covert government decision to include cars up to seven years old."  He might also have followed up Eric Pickles' discovery that Labour plan to introduce bin taxes but not until after polling day.

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.15pm: Nick Clegg's second question: Will the PM abandon his Post Office closures programme?  I won't take lessons from "Calamity Clegg" replies Brown.

12.14pm: Nick Clegg lists some failures of Labour on poverty but then [stupidly] asks the PM to say why people should vote Labour?  The PM obliges with one of his lists.

12.12pm: Gordon Brown responds by saying that Cameron is a shallow salesman who never addresses the substantial issues.  He wants to be tough on crime but urges everyone else to hug a hoodie.  He cycles to work but a chauffeur follows him.

12.10pm: The 42 days issue is the same as the 10p tax issue, says Cameron.  He takes up positions that aren't thought through for political advantage and they inevitably unravel. 

12.09pm: Gordon Brown avoids the question and quotes Met Chief Ian Blair in his support.  He says that the House will only vote for 42 days in principle - the House will have another chance to enact it, should that become necessary.

12.07pm: David Cameron says that with post-charge questioning and a commitment to a borders police force the Conservatives are taking the terrorist threat seriously but that they won't play into the terrorists' hands by compromising historic liberties.  He asks if Mr Brown will make this an issue of confidence in the Government.   

12.05pm: David Cameron says that Brown is ignoring the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the former Attorney General.  He quotes Stephen Pound saying that "I will support it but I think it's barmy".  The PM counters that it should be "ashamed" of itself for not supporting action that is a pre-emptive strike against terrorism, supported by the police.

12.03pm: The Prime Minister says that there'll be no U-turn on 42 days.

12.01pm: David Cameron begins by joking that the planted questions get tougher and tougher and then asks if the Prime Minister will have to concede on 42 days' detention without trial.

Noon: The Speaker begins by warning The House to behave more properly.

Brown U-turns on 10p just minutes before PMQs

3.15pm: Watch Sky's highlights video and PoliticsHome's new insiders' verdict on PMQs has just been published

2pm: Once a regular feature on BBC Online; Nick Assinder's weekly PMQs sketch has returned... on PoliticsHome

EDITORIAL VERDICT: Clear win for David Cameron.  With more than 40 Labour MPs backing Frank Field's amendment - which he has now withdrawn - the PM was facing certain defeat next week.  And, as David Cameron suggested, he retreated from a confrontation with his MPs - as, last autumn, he retreated from having to face the voters.

Highlights, not verbatim (read from bottom up to):

12.15pm: Nick Clegg says that he thought penalising the poor to reward the rich was the Tories' job.  Why is the Prime Minister doing their job for them?  If the PM can't deliver on poverty what is the point of this increasingly pointless Prime Minister?  Brown responds with stats on child poverty and jobs created etc.

12.13pm: The Prime Minister says Labour is for opportunity for everyone.  The Tories are for opportunism all of the time.

12.09pm: David Cameron says that Brown's reputation will never recover.  With this Government it's all politics and never the national interest.  Under Labour there are 600,000 more people in extreme poverty.  The Prime Minister has lost authority.  The PM had to leave a meeting in the White House to beg a PPS not to resign from his Government.  [He then lists things that Labour politicians are saying about Brown.]  One Labour MP compares him to Porridge.  Another week and it will be Cheerios.  They are beginning to realise that they don't have a leader but a loser. 

12.07pm: Gordon Brown does not answer the question but says that the choice is between a Labour Government that will cut poverty and a Conservative Party that doesn't care about issues like tax credits and the minimum wage.

12.05pm: We were told, says Cameron that there would be no backdown, no rewriting of the Budget, no concessions and now we've had a backdown, rewriting and concessions.  Did he go to "panic stations" because he knew he'd lose next week's vote, just as he cancelled the autumn General Election because he knew he'd lose that, too?

12.04pm: David Cameron rises to his feet and says this session should be called Prime Minister's U-turns, not Prime Minister's Question Time.  He then pays tribute to Gwyneth Dunwoody.  She'll be sorely missed.

12.01pm: Labour MP Louise Ellman invites Gordon Brown to compensate 10p tax victims. The PM promises to find ways of helping 60 to 64 year-olds and young and part-time workers who may have been hurt by the band's abolition. 

11.45am: Facing almost certain defeat the Government has undertaken a partial u-turn on the 10p tax band - promising backdated compensation for young and old people.  This will undoubtedly introduce even more complexity into an already complex system.

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.

Lines for William Hague to use tomorrow against 'Harriet Stab-Proof Vest Harman'

We've already blogged on Harriet Harman's crazy decision to wear a stab-proof vest on a visit to her constituency but, with Gordon Brown away, she faces William Hague at PMQs tomorrow.  Let's feed him some lines...

Live PMQs blog: Cameron attacks Labour's economic incompetence

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.25pm: Gerald Howarth asks Gordon Brown about reports that Washington Embassy staff have been told not to use the "special relationship" term.  Brown responds unequivocally; saying that he is proud to use the term.

12.24pm: Bob Spink (independent Conservative) gets up to warn Tory-controlled Essex County Council to invest more in his constituency.

12.18pm: Rev Ian Paisley invites the PM to rule out using the Embryology Bill to amend Northern Ireland's abortion laws.   Gordon Brown, after paying tribute to Paisley's time as First Minister, says it will be for the House to vote freely on that issue.

12.15pm: Nick Clegg asks if the home repossessions crisis is as great now as in the early 1990s.  The LibDem leader invites the PM to instruct the Bank of England to consider house prices when setting interest rates to avoid 'boom and bust'.  Brown rejects the comparison and says that interest rates are half what they were in the early 1990s.

12.12pm: I'll give you some basic arithmetic, Cameron responds: One Prime Minister plus One Chancellor equals Economic Incompetence.

12.11pm: The PM reels off a list of economic achievements (in his view) but doesn't answer Cameron's question.  Cameron asks the question again.  Brown responds by saying that the Tories want £10bn of spending cuts.

12.09pm: The Prime Minister shouldn't be quoting from a novellist, Cameron responds, but should be quoting from today's report - highly critical of the financial regulatory arrangements that Brown instituted.  The Tory leader invites the PM to name one other nation that has raised taxes.

12.07pm: To very loud Labour cheers Brown quotes Frederick Forsyth (recently appointed to run a Tory inquiry into defence) who said that David Cameron did not understand basic arithmetic.

12.03pm: David Cameron asks about financial regulation and invites the PM to say that the Governor of the Bank of England - not the FSA - should be in charge of rescuing troubled banks.  He highlights today's FSA report which highlights key shortages of banking supervision professionals.  Do another U-turn, Mr Cameron says, and reverse the FSA arrangements he established.

Noon: Brown wearing very red tie!

11.45am: Will David Cameron raise the Speaker's decision to spend up to £100,000 of taxpayers' money to defy a freedom of information order on MPs' expenses?

PMQs: Cameron calls on Brown to denounce Tibet crackdown

David Cameron said the whole world was "shocked by the security crackdown in Tibet", and whilst noting that our relationship with China was vital he asked if Brown would tell the Chinese government that the crackdown was completely unacceptable.

In replying Brown finally said that he would meet the Dalai Lama in London. On the Today programme yesterday Malcolm Rifkind had accused Brown of "extraordinary weakness and feebleness" in his dithering on the decision on whether to meet the Dalai Lama. Cameron congratulated him "on making absolutely the right decision". He didn't ask a question though so Brown just replied: "indeed, we make the right decisions at all times".

In his next set of questions Cameron offered Brown the "opportunity to answer some of the questions he's failed to answer", asking:

• Whether he would let MPs have free votes on the HFE Bill when it came to the Commons (first asked last week)
• Whether he was personally in favour of ID cards (first asked two months ago)
• Whether he could guarantee that A levels would remain after 2013 (first asked six weeks ago)

Brown, of course, didn't enlighten us any further. When he tried to turn the ID cards question into a question to Cameron, Cameron retorted: "If he wants to ask me questions, call an election and he can ask six a week!". In a reference to the "So what?" debate, he also noted that it was good to see the Children's Secretary (Ed Balls) "sitting there so quietly" and that he taken the right choice between shouting more clearly or being quiet.

Cameron presses Brown on Darfur and votes of conscience in pre-Budget PMQs

After saying he was "not sure the planted questions get any better" following the routine soft question from a Labour backbencher, Cameron asked Brown about what he was going to do about the ongoing tragedy in Darfur. Brown rattled off some stats and said he believed we must strengthen sanctions and that he had asked the Chinese to intervene.

On the African Union force already in place Cameron highlighted the lack of police deployed and the absence of any military helicopters, and asked if Brown would consider visiting Darfur and "push the no-fly zone very hard". Brown said a ceasefire was needed first and that he hoped the rebel groups will come to peace talks, without saying how this would be achieved. Hundreds have died in the last few days alone despite repeated promises by the UN to act. See this morning's Independent for details of the new wave of killing.

In his second set of questions, Cameron raised the increasingly contentious Human Embryology and Fertilisation Bill and in particular why votes on matters of conscience were being whipped by the Government. Brown failed to commit to free votes outside of abortion and referred vaguely to the processes by which whipping is decided. Cameron said that just wasn't good enough, jibing: "Why not break the habit of a lifetime and make the decision now?".

Live PMQs blog

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.27pm: Ann Winterton asks the Prime Minister if he sees a contradiction between our soldiers fighting bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan for democracy and his opposition to a referendum?  The PM replies by saying that the Commons is the place to decide  matters of this kind.

12.11pm: Cameron asks about the SIX police investigations currently underway into the London Mayor's office.  The PM says that it is not appropriate to comment on police investigations while they are still underway.  Brown repeats the lie that Boris is planning to cut spending on the police and transport.

12.09pm: Clegg rises to loud cheers from the Tory and Labour benches.  Why, he says, won't the Prime Minister join him in making the positive case for Europe by backing an in-out referendum.  Brown responds by saying that you don't make the case for Europe by walking out of the Commons or abstaining in a momentous vote.  He says that he will not go back to the 1970s with the LibDems on revisiting whether Britain should be part of the EU or not.

12.03pm: Cameron presses Brown again - why won't he answer?  The Tory leader goes on to say that the Treaty gets rid of many vetoes and delivers an EU President among other things.  Tony Blair is running for the Presidency of the United States of Europe.  Brown responds by quoting Ken Clarke's opposition to a Treaty [Earlier on News 24 Clarke had dismissed a vote as "dangerous populism"].  Cameron responds by quoting Labour MPs in favour of a vote.

12.01pm: Cameron asks the PM if he thinks he'd win a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty if he held one.  Brown responds by saying why he's not holding a referendum.

Live blog of PMQs: Cameron focuses on measures to restore public trust in politicians

EDITORIAL VERDICT: "PMQs was a bit of a non-event today and the broadcasters have decided that the rooftop protest was more newsworthy.  Sky (above) had live 'Skycopter' images of the protest playing alongside pictures from inside the chamber.  BBC Online decided to lead on the PM's condemnation of the protest.  So who wins PMQs overall today?  The rooftop protestors."

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.18pm: Rob Wilson asks a question from the Tory backbenchers about record numbers of people wanting to leave Britain.  What is it about his Government that makes so many want to emigrate, he asks.  Brown doesn't answer properly but talks about global patterns of migration.

12.16pm: Nick Clegg asks a question about anti-depressant drugs but is ridiculed by the PM and Tory and Labour backbenchers for yesterday's pantomime walkout.

12.13pm: Gerald Kaufman wins the 'scraping-the-barrel-of-the-day' award by asking the PM to affirm the importance of visits to Auschwitz and urging condemnation of David Cameron for something of course he never said.

12.12pm: David Cameron says that PMQs are not a substitute for presidential debates.  Not enough people watch PMQs and many don't think much of proceedings, the Tory leader says.

Liveblog PMQs with us

At-a-glance guide:

• David Cameron wishes PM a happy 57th Birthday, asks him to explain the catastrophic failure on the foreign criminals DNA disc. Brown responds by saying Conservatives were against DNA records. Cameron rejects that and says: "There always is an inquiry with this government... frequently a police inquiry".
• Clegg welcomes Brown's following of LibDem advice on Northern Rock and says they agree on the economically illiterate proposals of the Conservative Party, but asks him to admit that if he acted sooner he could have saved billions of pounds and the reputation of the City. Then asks about the scandal of energy companies making massive windfall profits, which should be given to people who might die for lack of heating.
• In his second set of questions Cameron asks what the PM is trying to hide by exempting Northern Rock from FOI. Brown says it would be unfair on NR if other companies could see its accounts. Cameron says PM's answer is feeble and gives examples of other publicly-owned bodies that are subject to FOI, says Government's approach to FOI would make Fidel Castro proud. Brown, to cheers, says he's not going to reduce the issue of NR to student politics, but makes a cheap shot in asking if DC will publish the accounts of the Midlands Industrial Council.
• See liveblog below for some backbench questions and thoughts on performance.

Open thread for PMQs

1.30pm: Apologies for our own lack of PMQs blogging today. Here's what Sky said...

"Does the PM want A-levels to stay?

Mr Brown then began listing Government achievements in education, and their plans to keep children in education until 18, before saying that a decision would be taken on A-levels in 2012.

That is not an answer. I want them to stay, does the PM? shouted the Opposition leader.

Do you believe in education till 18? the PM responded.

Do you want A-levels in the long term? asked Cameron.

Do you believe in education till 18? said the PM.

Why won't you give me a straight answer?! from DC.

Well, really. Although the PM insisted that he had given an answer, these exchanges are fast losing their utility as part of a system of accountable parliamentary democracy."

Liveblog of PMQs

This week we'll be using the liveblog software that we used to cover the Despatches programme on Livingstone (watch a replay of it here).

Live PMQs blog from noon

EDITORIAL VERDICT: "Emphatic victory for David Cameron. He talked about the big issues of the week - Northern Rock and economic weakness. He made the Prime Minister look evasive because he failed to answer questions about taxpayer exposure. Nick Clegg even helped the Conservatives by implying that Brown hadn't nationalised the Rock because he was running scared of the Tories.  Who's the real opposition now then, Mr Clegg?"

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.17pm: In response to a question from Ken Clarke Gordon Brown states that he inherited "very difficult" economic circustances from him!  The Tory benches erupt into laughter.

12.13pm: Nick Clegg accuses Gordon Brown of fleecing the taxpayer by privatising the profits but nationalising the risks. He says that Brown is running scared of the Conservative Party by not pursuing the short-term nationalisation of Northern Rock - the only sensible option.  Brown says that nationalisation is an option but the Government is determined to do the best for all those involved, including the shareholders and depositors of Northern Rock - as well as the taxpayer.

12.10pm: David Cameron challenges Brown to admit he was wrong to fly to China on a jet plane with one of the principal bidders for Northern Rock, Richard Branson.  He says that Britain enters a difficult economic period with the biggest budget deficit in Europe.  The Prime Minister is a ditherer who hasn't prepared Britain for difficult times.

12.08pm: Gordon Brown accuses David Cameron of wanting a fire sale of Northern Rock's assets by supporting administration. David Cameron replied by saying that the Prime Minister doesn't know the difference between administration and liquidation.  Cameron compares  Labour to now being in administration. After the next election it will be in liquidation.

12.06pm: David Cameron compares the Prime Minister to Del Boy.  He's like a used car salesman who won't tell the purchaser about the car's price, mileage or warranty. This is a subprime deal from a sub-Prime Minister.

12.05pm: Gordon Brown says that the spending is secured on Northern Rock's good asset book and accuses the Conservatives of inconsistencies.

12.03pm: David Cameron asks about the taxpayers' total exposure to Northern Rock.  Is it £55bn, he asks?  Every taxpayer in the country has been landed with a second mortgage.

12.01pm: Good opening question from Stephen Crabb about the Home Secretary needing an armed escort to go and buy a kebab.

11.40am: David Cameron must surely focus on the economy and contrast the hyperactivity on the other side of the Atlantic with the inactivity here?  Although there's always the retreat on ID cards.

Live blog of PMQs: Cameron probes Brown on Northern Rock

3.15pm round-up: Iain Dale notes that the Speaker forgot to call Nick Clegg. Ben Brogan is correct to point out that Mr Cameron is guilty of unparliamentary behaviour when he keeps referring to the Prime Minister as "you".  Fraser Nelson concludes that Cameron got the better of the Prime Minister.  The Telegraph's David Hughes enjoys the fact that both Cameron and Clegg feel confident enough to tackle Brown on the economy - once his strong suit.

Editorial verdict: Forgive the capitals but WHY DOES THE SPEAKER ALLOW THE PM TO QUESTION DAVID CAMERON AGAIN AND AGAIN? It's bad enough that Brown doesn't answer the questions that are put to him but he's abusing what is Prime Minister's Questions, not Leader of the Opposition's Questions.

CentreRight.com made a little history, too: DOUGLAS CARSWELL BECAME THE FIRST MP TO LIVE-BLOG PMQs DIRECT FROM THE CHAMBER!

Highlights. Not verbatim:

12.14pm: Nick Clegg asks about rocketing home repossessions - expected to rise by 50% this year.  Under Labour's watch, grossly irresponsible lending strategies were allowed to be pursued.  Brown responds by saying that home ownership has risen considerably under Labour.  He quotes from a Chris Huhne document cataloguing Nick Clegg's flip-flops on economic issues.

12.10pm: Brown concludes by saying that the FSA and Bank of England both support what the Government has done and the Tories used to.  The Tories, he says, have changed their position a number of times on nationalisation.  Labour stands for stability, he says, and the Conservatives for instability.

12.07pm: Cameron accuses Brown of dithering and delaying on all decisions about Northern Rock because of his planning for a General Election.

12.07pm: Brown says he refuses to give a running commentary on figures.

12.06pm: Cameron notes that Brown hasn't answered his question.  Will he confirm that the exposure won't get any greater?

12.05pm: Brown replies by saying that the Bank of England releases the data every week.  Does Mr Cameron support the actions we have taken?

12.04pm: I asked about precise figures, says David Cameron.  Is it true that the taxpayer has lent £55bn?

12.03pm: Gordon Brown responds by saying that that is still his hope that taxpayers will get all their money back.  He encourages the Opposition to support what the Government is doing.

12.02pm: David Cameron asks about Northern Rock. What is the exact extent of loans and guarantees?  Will the taxpayers get all of the money back?

Live blog of PMQs from noon: Nick Clegg's first outing

CONSERVATIVEHOME VERDICT: "Lots of Punch and Judy. No clear winner although Gordon Brown does appear to be leaving the door open to not progressing from voluntary ID cards to compulsory ID cards.  Nick Clegg gave a reasonable performance but he had nothing to rival David Cameron's debut performance line to Tony Blair: 'You were the future once'."

For those interested there's a Facebook group for PMQs enthusiasts.

Highlights, not verbatim:

12.13pm: Nick Clegg raises the issue of expensive fuel bills.  Brown replies by welcoming the new LibDem leader to his position and promises him an open door for discussions of issues of mutual interest.  Nick Clegg comes back by urging the Prime Minister to urge reform of the procedures by which the poorest families, on prepaid meters, pay the most for their energy.

12.12pm: All his lines are pre-rehearsed in front of the mirror, Brown replies - to much Labour laughter.  The Leader of the Opposition isn't facing up to Britain's long-term challenges.

12.11pm: Cameron ends by saying that this is a dithering Government that doesn't know what to do about ID cards, about CGT or about Mervyn King.

12.10pm: The Governor's appointment will be confirmed in the usual way, the Prime Minister replies.

12.07pm: Cameron changes line to capital gain tax.  CGT is lower overall since Labour came to power, replies Brown.  Business, Cameron says, needs to know what the Government's plans are on CGT and Darling has failed to deliver a promise to update the House of Commons before Christmas.  Will Mervyn King be given a new term as Bank Governor, Cameron asks.

12.04pm: Yes, says Gordon Brown, if the Commons votes for it and notes that Pauline Neville-Jones has supported ID cards in the past.  Cameron quotes back a previous statement from Alistair Darling that opposed ID cards.  Brown says that the ID card will only be voluntary for UK citizens until Parliament decides whether or not to proceed with compulsory ID cards.

12.03pm: Cameron welcomes Clegg to his position and says that he is relieved that his party no longer has the habit of changing its leader quite so often.  He then asks Gordon Brown if the Government still intends to introduce compulsory ID cards.

Noon: Nick Clegg not sitting at the end of the row but two LibDem MPs in.