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LIVE: Prime Minister's Questions LIVE: Prime Minister's Questions
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Prime minister's questions (UK only)Prime minister's questions (UK only)
By Emma Griffiths 1217 Again asked to apologise for the economic crisis - a failure Mr Cameron said the British people would never forget - Mr Brown says that while Labour were spending money to help the unemployed the Tories would help the rich, by raising the inheritance tax limits By Emma Griffiths 1226 'A matter of personal regret' - when is Gordon going to stand up and give an actual apology for the economic crisis and the subsequent job losses? Daren-Marc, Port Talbot
1224 Lib Dem MP Annette Brooke asks about the green belt and says local communities should be able to develop housing plans, rather than having them imposed from central government. Mr Brown says "we are doing more than any government to protect the green belt".
1223 Labour's Stafford MP David Kidney says relatives are entitled to an independent assessment about what happened. Mr Brown says every relative who asks for it has a right to see the case notes which ahd ben reviewed independently.
1222 Mr Clegg says doctors at the hospital say they were told to abandon seriously ill patients to treat the less ill - he says "mad" targets should be scrapped. Mr Brown says what happened was "unacceptable" but a report by the NHS watchdog found "low standards of management" at the hospital. He said it was "not unreasonable" to expect high standards of care - met within a certain waiting time.
1221 Mr Brown said they would look into whether there was a problem at a specific hospital or whether it was more generic. He said it was right to look at mistakes made at the hospital and said there were inquiries underway.
1220 Mr Brown says "we do apologise" for anyone who has suffered at the hospital - which has been condemned by the NHS watchdog.
1218 Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg stands up, and repeats a tribute to the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. He asks whether the PM believes "frenzied target setting in the NHS" had any role to play in the "horrific events" at the Staffordshire hospital.
1217 Again asked to apologise for the economic crisis - a failure Mr Cameron said the British people would never forget - Mr Brown says that while Labour were spending money to help the unemployed the Tories would help the rich, by raising the inheritance tax limits
1216 Mr Cameron says Mr Brown is a "complete phoney" for saying the day before he did not think "who said what when" rows helped. After shouts from Labour MPs and an order from the Speaker for Mr Cameron to withdraw the comment, the Tory leader withdrew the comment.1216 Mr Cameron says Mr Brown is a "complete phoney" for saying the day before he did not think "who said what when" rows helped. After shouts from Labour MPs and an order from the Speaker for Mr Cameron to withdraw the comment, the Tory leader withdrew the comment.
1214 Speaker Michael Martin intervenes to restore order. Mr Cameron accuses the PM of hyperactivity and inaction. The PM says the Tories do not know if the schemes they propose will cost money, or not. He says Mr Cameron needs to "wake up to the fact" that global action is needed.1214 Speaker Michael Martin intervenes to restore order. Mr Cameron accuses the PM of hyperactivity and inaction. The PM says the Tories do not know if the schemes they propose will cost money, or not. He says Mr Cameron needs to "wake up to the fact" that global action is needed.
1213 Another pension related dig, this time at Labour veteran Dennis Skinner who is, as usual, vocal from the Labour benches. Mr Cameron says he knows the left winger wanted miners to join the government. Now he had it - Lord Myners. Tory MPs cheers and shout "speechless" at Mr Skinner.1213 Another pension related dig, this time at Labour veteran Dennis Skinner who is, as usual, vocal from the Labour benches. Mr Cameron says he knows the left winger wanted miners to join the government. Now he had it - Lord Myners. Tory MPs cheers and shout "speechless" at Mr Skinner.
1211 Mr Brown says the Tory leader proposes things he will not fund. He says that is "not credible". Mr Cameron said employment minister Tony McNulty had "left the bunker" this morning to admit there was a "frustration" about schemes not working quickly enough.1211 Mr Brown says the Tory leader proposes things he will not fund. He says that is "not credible". Mr Cameron said employment minister Tony McNulty had "left the bunker" this morning to admit there was a "frustration" about schemes not working quickly enough.
1209 A dig from Mr Cameron about ex-RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin's generous pension deal - he says it's another sign that the government is incompetent.1209 A dig from Mr Cameron about ex-RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin's generous pension deal - he says it's another sign that the government is incompetent.
1209 Mr Brown says £1.3bn is being spent to help people who are made unemployed. He says the Tory leader is "asking us to do more by saying he will spend less and it just doesn't add up". Mr Cameron calls that the "view from the bunker". In the real world, he said, things are not happening.1209 Mr Brown says £1.3bn is being spent to help people who are made unemployed. He says the Tory leader is "asking us to do more by saying he will spend less and it just doesn't add up". Mr Cameron calls that the "view from the bunker". In the real world, he said, things are not happening.
1208 Mr Cameron queries figures the PM refers to about when the recession started and says he's also wrong about further education colleges. He says no unemployed person has been helped by recruitment subsidies and another scheme to help homeowners had helped no-one yet.1208 Mr Cameron queries figures the PM refers to about when the recession started and says he's also wrong about further education colleges. He says no unemployed person has been helped by recruitment subsidies and another scheme to help homeowners had helped no-one yet.
1207 Mr Cameron asks Mr Brown to "admit" he was wrong to say the UK was well placed to deal with the recession. Mr Brown says £110m will be spent this year on further education colleges and goes on to list other measures the government has pledged. He says he knows it is "little comfort" that unemployment is higher elsewhere - and that's why, he said, the government was doing everything it could do to help.1207 Mr Cameron asks Mr Brown to "admit" he was wrong to say the UK was well placed to deal with the recession. Mr Brown says £110m will be spent this year on further education colleges and goes on to list other measures the government has pledged. He says he knows it is "little comfort" that unemployment is higher elsewhere - and that's why, he said, the government was doing everything it could do to help.
1205 Mr Brown says unemployment is higher in many other European countries but the government is taking "urgent action" to help - he says the Conservatives would not help. Mr Cameron says 144 further education colleges were having building projects halted and there is an "enormous gulf" between what the PM says, and what his government is doing. He says the PM is "incapable" of admitting he got things wrong.1205 Mr Brown says unemployment is higher in many other European countries but the government is taking "urgent action" to help - he says the Conservatives would not help. Mr Cameron says 144 further education colleges were having building projects halted and there is an "enormous gulf" between what the PM says, and what his government is doing. He says the PM is "incapable" of admitting he got things wrong.
1204 David Cameron adds his tributes to the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. He also brings up unemployment figures and says the increase in the claimant count is the sharpest since records began. He says the PM was wrong to say the UK was well placed to withstand the recession.1204 David Cameron adds his tributes to the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. He also brings up unemployment figures and says the increase in the claimant count is the sharpest since records began. He says the PM was wrong to say the UK was well placed to withstand the recession.
1203 Labour MP Jim Sheridan brings up unemployment figures right at the start - he asks Mr Brown not to "abandon" the unemployed and invest in skills and training. Mr Brown says it is a matter of "personal regret for me and the whole government" that people are losing their jobs and says he will do all he can to help1203 Labour MP Jim Sheridan brings up unemployment figures right at the start - he asks Mr Brown not to "abandon" the unemployed and invest in skills and training. Mr Brown says it is a matter of "personal regret for me and the whole government" that people are losing their jobs and says he will do all he can to help
1201 Over in the Commons the PM has stood up and begins by expressing condolences about the deaths of soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the last week.1201 Over in the Commons the PM has stood up and begins by expressing condolences about the deaths of soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the last week.
1159 The BBC's Nick Robinson said he thinks David Cameron will tackle the unemployment figures first - but says the written statement from the PM on torture - an issue raised by the Tory leader last week - will also crop up. The PM has said in future he will publish guidelines on what is and is not acceptable and will get someone to oversee them. Mr Brown wants there to be a process to deal with allegations on torture made in the newspapers, he said.1159 The BBC's Nick Robinson said he thinks David Cameron will tackle the unemployment figures first - but says the written statement from the PM on torture - an issue raised by the Tory leader last week - will also crop up. The PM has said in future he will publish guidelines on what is and is not acceptable and will get someone to oversee them. Mr Brown wants there to be a process to deal with allegations on torture made in the newspapers, he said.
1156 Charles Clarke tells Daily Politics stories that Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were at odds over fiscal stimulus plans ahead of the G20 summit have been "talked up" and Germany had already had a substantial fiscal stimulus.1156 Charles Clarke tells Daily Politics stories that Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were at odds over fiscal stimulus plans ahead of the G20 summit have been "talked up" and Germany had already had a substantial fiscal stimulus.
1153 From BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue: Unemployment is a tragedy for those affected, but with the figures now hitting two million, it's also a political opportunity for David Cameron. Add to that another damning report from the IMF suggesting that Britain will be hit hardest among the big nations during the slump, and there are no prizes for guessing that it will be "the economy stupid" will dominate prime minister's questions today. And now that Mr Cameron has "apologised" for not seeing the recession coming, perhaps he'll have another bash at getting Gordon to say sorry too - don't hold your breath on that one though.1153 From BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue: Unemployment is a tragedy for those affected, but with the figures now hitting two million, it's also a political opportunity for David Cameron. Add to that another damning report from the IMF suggesting that Britain will be hit hardest among the big nations during the slump, and there are no prizes for guessing that it will be "the economy stupid" will dominate prime minister's questions today. And now that Mr Cameron has "apologised" for not seeing the recession coming, perhaps he'll have another bash at getting Gordon to say sorry too - don't hold your breath on that one though.
1151 We can probably expect questions on the prediction by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the UK's recession will last longer than any other major economy and on Stafford Hospital, which has been condemned by the NHS watchdog for "appalling" emergency care which resulted in hundreds of patient deaths. Health Secretary Alan Johnson is to make a statement after PM's questions about it.1151 We can probably expect questions on the prediction by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the UK's recession will last longer than any other major economy and on Stafford Hospital, which has been condemned by the NHS watchdog for "appalling" emergency care which resulted in hundreds of patient deaths. Health Secretary Alan Johnson is to make a statement after PM's questions about it.
1150 Hello - welcome to our live text coverage of this week's prime minister's questions as Gordon Brown goes head to head with David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Expect the economy to dominate questions as the latest figures show unemployment has topped 2m for the first time since 1997. Rows continue over ex-RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin's generous pension and whether British agents were complicit in the alleged torture of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed. My colleague Gary O'Donoghue will be providing some analysis throughout PMQs. Lib Dem frontbencher David Laws is on the Daily Politics, as are former home secretary Charles Clarke for Labour and Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan. You can send your comments via the form on the top right of this page.1150 Hello - welcome to our live text coverage of this week's prime minister's questions as Gordon Brown goes head to head with David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Expect the economy to dominate questions as the latest figures show unemployment has topped 2m for the first time since 1997. Rows continue over ex-RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin's generous pension and whether British agents were complicit in the alleged torture of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed. My colleague Gary O'Donoghue will be providing some analysis throughout PMQs. Lib Dem frontbencher David Laws is on the Daily Politics, as are former home secretary Charles Clarke for Labour and Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan. You can send your comments via the form on the top right of this page.