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| Brown facing first PM questions | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown is taking part in his first prime minister's questions. | |
| Mr Brown, who took office last week, will face a grilling from Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell. | |
| PMQs, as it is known, has a big impact on the morale of a leader's MPs and can set the tone for a prime minister, but its impact on voters is disputed. | PMQs, as it is known, has a big impact on the morale of a leader's MPs and can set the tone for a prime minister, but its impact on voters is disputed. |
| Last week saw outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair receive a standing ovation from Labour and opposition MPs. | |
| 'Obsessed' | |
| Earlier, former Conservative leader Michael Howard told the BBC it was possible to "exaggerate" the importance of prime minister's questions. | |
| He added: "The political classes are obsessed with them. I don't think the rest of the world is. | He added: "The political classes are obsessed with them. I don't think the rest of the world is. |
| "It's important in terms of party morale but I don't think it's as decisive as some of the political classes might think." | "It's important in terms of party morale but I don't think it's as decisive as some of the political classes might think." |
| I'm sure he will continue doing well Michael Howard on David Cameron How contenders measure up Why PMQs matter | I'm sure he will continue doing well Michael Howard on David Cameron How contenders measure up Why PMQs matter |
| He added that Mr Cameron had done "extremely well against Tony Blair. I'm sure he will continue doing well". | He added that Mr Cameron had done "extremely well against Tony Blair. I'm sure he will continue doing well". |
| Lord Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party, said: "Gordon Brown made his name in the 1980s as a very effective welterweight with a heavy punch. | Lord Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party, said: "Gordon Brown made his name in the 1980s as a very effective welterweight with a heavy punch. |
| "The reality is in Gordon Brown there's a real capacity to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee." | "The reality is in Gordon Brown there's a real capacity to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee." |
| In his first seven days in Downing Street, he has unveiled a revamped Cabinet, changing all the ministers except one, and introducing many new faces. | In his first seven days in Downing Street, he has unveiled a revamped Cabinet, changing all the ministers except one, and introducing many new faces. |
| He and his newly appointed home secretary have also had to deal with a heightened security threat to the UK after car bombing attempts in London and Glasgow, which included convening the government's emergency committee Cobra. | He and his newly appointed home secretary have also had to deal with a heightened security threat to the UK after car bombing attempts in London and Glasgow, which included convening the government's emergency committee Cobra. |
| Mr Brown has also outlined constitutional changes, such as giving MPs the final say on declaring war and on international treaties. | Mr Brown has also outlined constitutional changes, such as giving MPs the final say on declaring war and on international treaties. |