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| The full story: PM's questions | The full story: PM's questions |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Watch the full prime minister's questions session | |
| BEN WRIGHT'S VERDICT href="#dailypolitics">DAILY POLITICS EXPERTS' VIEW class="bodl" href="#point">POINT-BY-POINT class="bodl" href="#views">YOUR VIEWS | |
| PMQs VERDICT: BY BEN WRIGHT | PMQs VERDICT: BY BEN WRIGHT |
| The last time Harriet Harman deputised for Gordon Brown at PMQs she delighted her own side by giving William Hague a hammering, goading the Tories for not putting up her opposite number Theresa May. | The last time Harriet Harman deputised for Gordon Brown at PMQs she delighted her own side by giving William Hague a hammering, goading the Tories for not putting up her opposite number Theresa May. |
| Mischievous recent reports have said she's now testing the waters for a leadership challenge. | Mischievous recent reports have said she's now testing the waters for a leadership challenge. |
| It was Mr Hague again today and he didn't make the mistake of patronising Labour's deputy leader this time. | It was Mr Hague again today and he didn't make the mistake of patronising Labour's deputy leader this time. |
| He kicked off with a question about the government's plans to legislate on financial stability and asked why it wasn't coming onto the statute book sooner. | He kicked off with a question about the government's plans to legislate on financial stability and asked why it wasn't coming onto the statute book sooner. |
| Harriet Harman didn't seem to know. Instead she went for the shadow foreign secretary. William Hague may be boyish but he was once in a Conservative Cabinet. | Harriet Harman didn't seem to know. Instead she went for the shadow foreign secretary. William Hague may be boyish but he was once in a Conservative Cabinet. |
| The groans began to gather and the Chamber knew what was coming. A Bruce Forsyth-style question and response routine with the labour backbenches about the Tories' own economic record. It felt as dated as musical hall. | The groans began to gather and the Chamber knew what was coming. A Bruce Forsyth-style question and response routine with the labour backbenches about the Tories' own economic record. It felt as dated as musical hall. |
| Mr Hague was withering. "If she wants to be Prime Minister she should start acting like one," he said. | Mr Hague was withering. "If she wants to be Prime Minister she should start acting like one," he said. |
| Ms Harman responded by hand-bagging Theresa May again, who was innocently caught up in the cross-fire. The Tory spokesman should, she said, nip over the river to Lambeth Palace and apply to become a bishop. | Ms Harman responded by hand-bagging Theresa May again, who was innocently caught up in the cross-fire. The Tory spokesman should, she said, nip over the river to Lambeth Palace and apply to become a bishop. |
| The message: Women are more welcome in the Anglican Church that the Conservative Party. | The message: Women are more welcome in the Anglican Church that the Conservative Party. |
| For the Lib Dems Vince Cable asked a sensible question about housing and got a neat crack in about the PM wanting to be "Britain's weight-watcher in chief". | For the Lib Dems Vince Cable asked a sensible question about housing and got a neat crack in about the PM wanting to be "Britain's weight-watcher in chief". |
| William Hague got up again and followed up the theme and offered some evidence of food waste within Whitehall. | William Hague got up again and followed up the theme and offered some evidence of food waste within Whitehall. |
| Harriet Harman's habit of making her replies personal continued with a dig at Hague's infamous 18 pint drinking boast. | Harriet Harman's habit of making her replies personal continued with a dig at Hague's infamous 18 pint drinking boast. |
| With a twinkle, Mr Hague assured her that the booze wasn't wasted. He wished her well with the campaign to get rid of Gordon Brown. | With a twinkle, Mr Hague assured her that the booze wasn't wasted. He wished her well with the campaign to get rid of Gordon Brown. |
| Labour's deputy refused to take the bait and said Gordon Brown was "a man of true grit and determination". | Labour's deputy refused to take the bait and said Gordon Brown was "a man of true grit and determination". |
| She sounded like she meant it. She finished by making an odd gag about men fleeing the country if she became PM but the joke died in suddenly quiet Commons chamber. Brucie wouldn't have made the same mistake. | She sounded like she meant it. She finished by making an odd gag about men fleeing the country if she became PM but the joke died in suddenly quiet Commons chamber. Brucie wouldn't have made the same mistake. |
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| DAILY POLITICS GUESTS' VERDICTS | |
| The Daily Politics' analysis of Prime Minister's Questions. Andrew Neil and Anita Anand are joined by Michael White, Tessa Jowell and Ken Clarke. | |
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| AS IT HAPPENED: BY BRIAN WHEELER | |
| 1406: OK. That's it for another week. Thank you for joining us. We look forward to you joining us for next week's PMQs, when the main party leaders return. | 1406: OK. That's it for another week. Thank you for joining us. We look forward to you joining us for next week's PMQs, when the main party leaders return. |
| 1322: Tory MP Philip Dunn tells BBC Radio 4's The World at One that Ms Harman fell "very, very flat" at PMQs, but Labour's Anne Begg argues that she showed "self-deprecation" and did "very, very well". Plaid Cymru's Adam Price says Ms Harman "seemed to be enjoying herself", especially compared with Gordon Brown. | 1322: Tory MP Philip Dunn tells BBC Radio 4's The World at One that Ms Harman fell "very, very flat" at PMQs, but Labour's Anne Begg argues that she showed "self-deprecation" and did "very, very well". Plaid Cymru's Adam Price says Ms Harman "seemed to be enjoying herself", especially compared with Gordon Brown. |
| 1241: Tessa Jowell says Ms Harman was "absolutely terrific" at PMQs and said it showed you could never underestimate her. Ken Clarke agreed that she was "dogged" but says she was not as good as last time she stood in for Mr Brown and was "plainly not a prime minister in waiting". | 1241: Tessa Jowell says Ms Harman was "absolutely terrific" at PMQs and said it showed you could never underestimate her. Ken Clarke agreed that she was "dogged" but says she was not as good as last time she stood in for Mr Brown and was "plainly not a prime minister in waiting". |
| 1234: Ms Harman was given a line to take on the economy but sounded "too complacent", says former Chancellor Ken Clarke on The Daily Politics. | 1234: Ms Harman was given a line to take on the economy but sounded "too complacent", says former Chancellor Ken Clarke on The Daily Politics. |
| 1230: David Clelland asks about working men's clubs, which he says are struggling after recent legislation. Ms Harman agreed to a meeting and said she would ask the secretary of state for communities and local government to look into it. | 1230: David Clelland asks about working men's clubs, which he says are struggling after recent legislation. Ms Harman agreed to a meeting and said she would ask the secretary of state for communities and local government to look into it. |
| 1228: Tory MP Peter Bottomley asks when part-time workers will be compensated for the abolition of the 10p tax band. Ms Harman says a package has already been announced on the 10p rate. She hails the national minimum wage. | 1228: Tory MP Peter Bottomley asks when part-time workers will be compensated for the abolition of the 10p tax band. Ms Harman says a package has already been announced on the 10p rate. She hails the national minimum wage. |
| 1226: Ms Harman says there will be no forced removals of people back to Zimbabwe during the current crisis after a question by Labour's Fiona McTaggart, who says they should be allowed to work as well. | 1226: Ms Harman says there will be no forced removals of people back to Zimbabwe during the current crisis after a question by Labour's Fiona McTaggart, who says they should be allowed to work as well. |
| 1225: Tory MP John Randall says the government is backing out of its commitment on air quality on Heathrow expansion. Ms Harman says a consultation is still underway on Heathrow and accuses the Tories of being split on it. | 1225: Tory MP John Randall says the government is backing out of its commitment on air quality on Heathrow expansion. Ms Harman says a consultation is still underway on Heathrow and accuses the Tories of being split on it. |
| 1224: Ms Harman says there are inequalities in the provision of drugs on the NHS and "it shouldn't be a postcode lottery". | 1224: Ms Harman says there are inequalities in the provision of drugs on the NHS and "it shouldn't be a postcode lottery". |
| 1223: Ms Harman attacks "daft questions" about a coup against Gordon Brown saying Labour was getting on with the business of government. | 1223: Ms Harman attacks "daft questions" about a coup against Gordon Brown saying Labour was getting on with the business of government. |
| 1222: Back to the housing market and Ms Harman urges MPs to back eco-towns. | 1222: Back to the housing market and Ms Harman urges MPs to back eco-towns. |
| 1216: Ms Harman advises Mr Hague not to underestimate Mr Brown who she says is "a man of true grit and determination". She says if she became prime minister "there aren't enough airports in the country for all the men who would want to flee the country". | 1216: Ms Harman advises Mr Hague not to underestimate Mr Brown who she says is "a man of true grit and determination". She says if she became prime minister "there aren't enough airports in the country for all the men who would want to flee the country". |
| 1216: "None of that was ever wasted, I can assure her," says Mr Hague, who then says the country should not take food advice from a PM who is "past his sell by date". He wishes Ms Harman well in her campaign to replace him (after press reports she was taking soundings about a leadership bid). | 1216: "None of that was ever wasted, I can assure her," says Mr Hague, who then says the country should not take food advice from a PM who is "past his sell by date". He wishes Ms Harman well in her campaign to replace him (after press reports she was taking soundings about a leadership bid). |
| 1215: The last person Mr Brown would look to for diet advice "is someone who thinks a good diet is 18 pints a day," says Ms Harman, referring to Mr Hague boast when Tory leader that he once drank that much in a day when he was teenager. | 1215: The last person Mr Brown would look to for diet advice "is someone who thinks a good diet is 18 pints a day," says Ms Harman, referring to Mr Hague boast when Tory leader that he once drank that much in a day when he was teenager. |
| 1214: Mr Hague asks if government departments should be careful about wasted food. | 1214: Mr Hague asks if government departments should be careful about wasted food. |
| 1212: Labour's Clive Efford asks about knife crime and takes a swipe at London Mayor Boris Johnson. Ms Harman stresses the need to work together to tackle a growing problem. | 1212: Labour's Clive Efford asks about knife crime and takes a swipe at London Mayor Boris Johnson. Ms Harman stresses the need to work together to tackle a growing problem. |
| 1211: Ms Harman warns about the dangers of talking the economy down. | 1211: Ms Harman warns about the dangers of talking the economy down. |
| 1210: Instead of "lecturing us what we should have for dinner" Prime Minister Gordon Brown should take the housing crisis more seriously, says Mr Cable. | 1210: Instead of "lecturing us what we should have for dinner" Prime Minister Gordon Brown should take the housing crisis more seriously, says Mr Cable. |
| 1209: Ms Harman says the government is already taking action on the housing market - and list some of its measures. | 1209: Ms Harman says the government is already taking action on the housing market - and list some of its measures. |
| 1208: Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable asks - in the light of house builders laying people off - why the government does not make good on its pledge to buy up unused homes. | 1208: Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable asks - in the light of house builders laying people off - why the government does not make good on its pledge to buy up unused homes. |
| 1206: Ms Harman rejoins battle from the last time these two clashed at PMQs - asking why Mr Hague and not his colleague (and her Tory shadow) Theresa May was not standing in for David Cameron. She advised Ms May to apply to become a Church of England bishop instead. | 1206: Ms Harman rejoins battle from the last time these two clashed at PMQs - asking why Mr Hague and not his colleague (and her Tory shadow) Theresa May was not standing in for David Cameron. She advised Ms May to apply to become a Church of England bishop instead. |
| 1205: Mr Hague says if Ms Harman "wants to be prime minister she had better start acting like one". | 1205: Mr Hague says if Ms Harman "wants to be prime minister she had better start acting like one". |
| 1204: Ms Harman reminds Mr Hague of the Tory record on the economy. | 1204: Ms Harman reminds Mr Hague of the Tory record on the economy. |
| 1203 William Hague asks about promises made by Gordon Brown to legislate on financial stability, offering Conservative help to get it through Parliament. | 1203 William Hague asks about promises made by Gordon Brown to legislate on financial stability, offering Conservative help to get it through Parliament. |
| 1202: Labour's Don Touhig asks about compensation for miner's disease "vibration white finger". Ms Harman says it is being dealt with. | 1202: Labour's Don Touhig asks about compensation for miner's disease "vibration white finger". Ms Harman says it is being dealt with. |
| 1200 Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker asks the government to put the public interest first over Heathrow expansion. Ms Harman says the government is consulting on it. | 1200 Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker asks the government to put the public interest first over Heathrow expansion. Ms Harman says the government is consulting on it. |
| 1158: A couple of minutes to go before the start of PMQs. The Guardian's Michael White says predicting the subjects that will come up is a "mug's game" but he suspects Mr Hague will be looking for revenge at Ms Harman's jibes last time they faced each other. | 1158: A couple of minutes to go before the start of PMQs. The Guardian's Michael White says predicting the subjects that will come up is a "mug's game" but he suspects Mr Hague will be looking for revenge at Ms Harman's jibes last time they faced each other. |
| 1152: What's going to come up at PMQs? Zimbabwe has figured heavily in recent PMQs and is in the news again this morning. Ms Harman may also face questions about the economy, after yet more gloomy news, including job cuts by house builders. Gordon Brown has also pledged tougher sanctions against youths who carry knives, which may prompt some questions from MPs. | 1152: What's going to come up at PMQs? Zimbabwe has figured heavily in recent PMQs and is in the news again this morning. Ms Harman may also face questions about the economy, after yet more gloomy news, including job cuts by house builders. Gordon Brown has also pledged tougher sanctions against youths who carry knives, which may prompt some questions from MPs. |
| 1135: Good morning. With Gordon Brown at the G8 summit in Japan, Harriet Harman steps into the spotlight at mid-day to take PMQs. She will face questions from shadow foreign secretary William Hague. When these two first met across the despatch box, in April, they traded insults about their taste in clothes (it was at the height of Ms Harman's stab vest controversy) so it could be a lively session. Ms Harman has had problems closer to home this morning as two Fathers 4 Justice campaigners staged a rooftop protest at her home in South London. | 1135: Good morning. With Gordon Brown at the G8 summit in Japan, Harriet Harman steps into the spotlight at mid-day to take PMQs. She will face questions from shadow foreign secretary William Hague. When these two first met across the despatch box, in April, they traded insults about their taste in clothes (it was at the height of Ms Harman's stab vest controversy) so it could be a lively session. Ms Harman has had problems closer to home this morning as two Fathers 4 Justice campaigners staged a rooftop protest at her home in South London. |
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| YOUR VIEWS ON PM'S QUESTIONS | YOUR VIEWS ON PM'S QUESTIONS |
| Ms Harman makes for a dull and boring PMQs. I prefer to see Bottler Brown getting so angry he starts banging his clunking fist.Mr Angry, Liverpool | Ms Harman makes for a dull and boring PMQs. I prefer to see Bottler Brown getting so angry he starts banging his clunking fist.Mr Angry, Liverpool |
| I couldn't help but smile at Harriet Harman's face when Hague wished her luck in getting rid of Calamity Brown. I hope the Prime Minister is enjoying (and wasting) another 6 course meal instead of tuning in for PMQs where many MPs in the house seem to be embarrassed by his performance, behind his back.Si Dewhurst, Sheering, United Kingdom | I couldn't help but smile at Harriet Harman's face when Hague wished her luck in getting rid of Calamity Brown. I hope the Prime Minister is enjoying (and wasting) another 6 course meal instead of tuning in for PMQs where many MPs in the house seem to be embarrassed by his performance, behind his back.Si Dewhurst, Sheering, United Kingdom |
| If Hormone Harperson were to become prime minister I would jump in the channel and swim like mad. Even when she joked about every man leaving the country you could see the menace in her eyes suggesting she meant it. Then the cameras panned along the bench to Ms Umbridge-Blears grinning away in the contemptuous way at which she excels. God help us. Good answer from Hague the younger when confronted on the 18-pint saga.Noel, Totnes | If Hormone Harperson were to become prime minister I would jump in the channel and swim like mad. Even when she joked about every man leaving the country you could see the menace in her eyes suggesting she meant it. Then the cameras panned along the bench to Ms Umbridge-Blears grinning away in the contemptuous way at which she excels. God help us. Good answer from Hague the younger when confronted on the 18-pint saga.Noel, Totnes |
| Brilliant - the clown prince Hague out-joked by Harman. Overall the usual stupid questions from Hague - why does this past failed Tory Leader stand in for Cameron - is it to make Cameron look good? Cable, who usually does reasonably well, was worse - yes, even worse - than Hague.John Turner, Barry, United Kingdom | Brilliant - the clown prince Hague out-joked by Harman. Overall the usual stupid questions from Hague - why does this past failed Tory Leader stand in for Cameron - is it to make Cameron look good? Cable, who usually does reasonably well, was worse - yes, even worse - than Hague.John Turner, Barry, United Kingdom |
| So Ms. Harman thinks Mr Brown has "True Grit" does she? I seem to remember that in the film of the same name, John Wayne portrayed a one-eyed, fat, drunkard who didn't give a damn about anyone else unless it improved his personal wealth. Hmm....I can see the likeness.Anthony Bramwell, Oxford | So Ms. Harman thinks Mr Brown has "True Grit" does she? I seem to remember that in the film of the same name, John Wayne portrayed a one-eyed, fat, drunkard who didn't give a damn about anyone else unless it improved his personal wealth. Hmm....I can see the likeness.Anthony Bramwell, Oxford |
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