The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday 9 May:
The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday 9 May:
Prime minister Tony Blair began by paying tribute to former Commons speaker Lord Weatherill, who died this week. Mr Blair said he was a "real gentleman" and "someone of impartiality and decency" who would be missed by the whole house.
Prime minister Tony Blair began by paying tribute to former Commons speaker Lord Weatherill, who died this week. Mr Blair said he was a "real gentleman" and "someone of impartiality and decency" who would be missed by the whole house.
He also paid tribute to two servicemen killed and a police officer killed over the past week.
He also paid tribute to two servicemen killed and a police officer killed over the past week.
The first question came from Lib Dem Simon Hughes, who called for the Maudesley hospital, a mental hospital in his constituency, to be kept open. Mr Blair said its services would transfer to another hospital.
The first question came from Lib Dem Simon Hughes, who called for the Maudesley hospital, a mental hospital in his constituency, to be kept open. Mr Blair said its services would transfer to another hospital.
Conservative leader David Cameron added his condolences to the families of the dead servicemen and paid tribute to Lord Weatherill.
Conservative leader David Cameron added his condolences to the families of the dead servicemen and paid tribute to Lord Weatherill.
He asked Mr Blair if it was sensible to split the Home Office, quoting former home secretary Charles Clarke, who said the idea was "completely batty".
He asked Mr Blair if it was sensible to split the Home Office, quoting former home secretary Charles Clarke, who said the idea was "completely batty".
Mr Blair said it made sense for the Home Office to focus on fighting terrorism, with another department focusing on courts and justice as in "many other countries".
Mr Blair said it made sense for the Home Office to focus on fighting terrorism, with another department focusing on courts and justice as in "many other countries".
Mr Blair taunted Mr Cameron over apparent confusion in the Tory policy on border guards.
Mr Blair taunted Mr Cameron over apparent confusion in the Tory policy on border guards.
Mr Cameron hit back with a quote from Mr Blair: "In my view the fit between immigration, crime and prisons is a proper fit." He added, referring to John Reid's plan to step down: "If splitting the home office is such a good idea why isn't the home secretary hanging around to see it through?"
Mr Cameron hit back with a quote from Mr Blair: "In my view the fit between immigration, crime and prisons is a proper fit." He added, referring to John Reid's plan to step down: "If splitting the home office is such a good idea why isn't the home secretary hanging around to see it through?"
Mr Blair repeated that splitting the home office was a more sensible solution than that proposed by the Conservatives.
Mr Blair repeated that splitting the home office was a more sensible solution than that proposed by the Conservatives.
Mr Cameron said: "The government is now paralysed. We have got a Home Secretary splitting his department but he has already resigned. We have got a Foreign Secretary negotiating a European Treaty that she won't be around to ratify and we have got a prime minister, who even after last week's drubbing simply doesn't understand that it's over. Everybody knows who the next Labour leader is, and thank God he's got out of his blacked-out limo and come to the House of Commons... Why does the country have to put up with another seven weeks of paralysis?''
Mr Cameron said: "The government is now paralysed. We have got a Home Secretary splitting his department but he has already resigned. We have got a Foreign Secretary negotiating a European Treaty that she won't be around to ratify and we have got a prime minister, who even after last week's drubbing simply doesn't understand that it's over. Everybody knows who the next Labour leader is, and thank God he's got out of his blacked-out limo and come to the House of Commons... Why does the country have to put up with another seven weeks of paralysis?''
Mr Blair hit back: "I'll tell him what I'll be concentrating on in the next seven weeks and that is policy." Quoting a recent speech by Tory policy chief Oliver Letwin, he said: "Cameron Conservatism is an attempt to shift the theory of the state from a provision based paradigm to a framework based paradigm (laughs) the provision ..theory of the modern state being the successor to socialism in the post Marxist era,' (laughs)... concluding with the words 'it all goes back to Marx'...(laughs) that's Groucho, I assume."
Mr Blair hit back: "I'll tell him what I'll be concentrating on in the next seven weeks and that is policy." Quoting a recent speech by Tory policy chief Oliver Letwin, he said: "Cameron Conservatism is an attempt to shift the theory of the state from a provision based paradigm to a framework based paradigm (laughs) the provision ..theory of the modern state being the successor to socialism in the post Marxist era,' (laughs)... concluding with the words 'it all goes back to Marx'...(laughs) that's Groucho, I assume."
After further rowdy exchanges Mr Cameron asked: "This is the government of the living dead - why do we have to put up with more paralysis?"
After further rowdy exchanges Mr Cameron asked: "This is the government of the living dead - why do we have to put up with more paralysis?"
Mr Blair said Mr Cameron "can be as cocky as he likes about the local elections, but it's policy that counts and on policy he loses".
Mr Blair said Mr Cameron "can be as cocky as he likes about the local elections, but it's policy that counts and on policy he loses".
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell added his tribute to Lord Weatherill.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell added his tribute to Lord Weatherill.
He asked Mr Blair about overpaid tax credits, claiming thousands of poor people were being "chased through the courts" for arrears they could not afford to pay.
He asked Mr Blair about overpaid tax credits, claiming thousands of poor people were being "chased through the courts" for arrears they could not afford to pay.
"Why should the most vulnerable pay for the mistakes of the most powerful?," asked Sir Menzies.
"Why should the most vulnerable pay for the mistakes of the most powerful?," asked Sir Menzies.
Mr Blair said millions of families had been helped by tax credits.
Philip Dunne, Conservative, Ludlow, called for an end to plans for a "costly" unitary authority in his constituency.
Mr Blair said millions of families had been helped by tax credits.
Philip Dunne, Conservative, Ludlow, called for an end to plans for a "costly" unitary authority in his constituency.
Clive Efford, Labour Eltham, asked about attempts by peers to end the "freedom pass" for pensioners in London. Mr Blair said he hoped the opposition
Clive Efford, Labour Eltham, asked about attempts by peers to end the "freedom" travel pass for pensioners in London. Mr Blair said he hoped the opposition would not vote for this.
Conservative MP Edward Leigh called for an "ordered withdrawal" of British troops from Iraq.
Conservative MP Edward Leigh called for an "ordered withdrawal" of British troops from Iraq.
Mr Blair said he was "profoundly wrong" - despite growing voices in the US calling for withdrawal - because the Iraqis had voted for democracy and although it was "difficult" for British forces at the moment, it was important to stand up to those who were bringing "carnage" to the country.
Mr Blair said he was "profoundly wrong" - despite growing voices in the US calling for withdrawal - because the Iraqis had voted for democracy and although it was "difficult" for British forces at the moment, it was important to stand up to those who were bringing "carnage" to the country.
"The best people to judge that are the Iraqis themselves" and "credit" should be given to the democratically elected Iraqi government, added Mr Blair.
"The best people to judge that are the Iraqis themselves" and "credit" should be given to the democratically elected Iraqi government, added Mr Blair.
Eric Ilsley, Labour, Barnsley Central, asked if Mr Blair's legacy would be "unfairness in the workplace" after court staff in his constituency were put on the lowest pay grade.
Eric Ilsley, Labour, Barnsley Central, asked if Mr Blair's legacy would be "unfairness in the workplace" after court staff in his constituency were put on the lowest pay grade.
Mr Blair said Labour had helped the lowest paid with initiatives like the minimum wage.
Mr Blair said Labour had helped the lowest paid with initiatives like the minimum wage.
Sir Peter Tapsell, Conservative, Louth and Hardcastle, paid mock tribute to Mr Blair saying he had shown optimism "that would have eluded James II and delighted Walter Mitty". Mr Blair said James II had never won three elections.
Sir Peter Tapsell, Conservative, Louth and Hardcastle, paid mock tribute to Mr Blair saying he had shown optimism "that would have eluded James II and delighted Walter Mitty". Mr Blair said James II had never won three elections.
Brian Binley asked about what he said was an increase in violent crime in his Northampton South constituency. Mr Blair said under this government crime has fallen significantly.
Brian Binley asked about what he said was an increase in violent crime in his Northampton South constituency. Mr Blair said under this government crime has fallen significantly.
In response to a question from Graham Stringer, Labour MP for Manchester Blakely, Mr Blair said the government hoped to bring forward proposals "very shortly" to introduce regional casinos.
In response to a question from Graham Stringer, Labour MP for Manchester Blakely, Mr Blair said the government hoped to bring forward proposals "very shortly" to introduce regional casinos.
Mr Blair said he did not see why Manchester had to be pitted against Blackpool for the right to have a super casino.
Mr Blair said he did not see why Manchester had to be pitted against Blackpool for the right to have a super casino.
"If the investment is there, let's do both of them," he told MPs, adding that if Labour had had its way that is what would have happened.
"If the investment is there, let's do both of them," he told MPs, adding that if Labour had had its way that is what would have happened.
