Backbench MPs had one eye on tomorrow's local elections during prime minister's questions this afternoon.
Many used their questions to praise their own local councils and condemn those run by opposition parties.
Jim McGovern, Labour MP for Dundee West said the Scottish National Party had broken its promises in Scotland and asked the prime minister whether he would rather they were returned to government in Scotland just to keep out Labour.
David Cameron said he wanted to see the "greatest possible showing" for Conservative candidates in the elections and he said "whatever the outcome, I for one will stant full-square behind the United Kingdom".
Phillip Lee (Con, Bracknell) raised the issue of the cost to local councils of battling the "significant fires" raging in some parts of the country.
Cameron said there were "tried and tested procedures" that made sure central government stood behind local government when there were "excessive costs".
Caroline Dinage (Con, Gosport) asked whether the prime minister agreed with Labour peer Lord Glassman that the previous government "lied" about the extent of immigration while they were in power.
Cameron said Labour "didn't tell it straight" to people on immigration. "What Lord Glasman said is something I've said many times, there was very hard rhetoric combined with very loose policy."
Former Labour justice secretary Jack Straw said there was "profound anxiety" about a EU proposal to ban stem cell research.
Cameron said the Commons and Lords had "extensive debates" on the issue and that it was right the UK remained a world leader in stem cell research.
Jeremy Lefroy (Con, Stafford) asked about investment in the future of British manufacturing.
The prime minister said he wanted to see the growth in manufacturing maintained. He said the government would do this by cutting taxes and boosting apprenticeships.
Former Labour defence secretary Bob Ainsworth accused Cameron of "watering down" the commitment to enforce a military covenant.
But Cameron said the covenant would be "clearly referenced" in law and would be published and debated in the Commons every year,
Jane Ellison (Con, Battersea) praised her local council for its low council tax.
Cameron praised her Conservative council for keeping costs down.
Pamela Nash (Lab, Airdrie and Shotts) said home buyers were "crippled by unemployment and student debt and living costs".
Cameron said there was a "real worry" that the age of first time buyers was getting older and older and said he hoped FirstBuy would help.
Stephen Mosley (Con, City of Chester) said councils needed to reach "fair and sensible decisions" on spending.
Cameron agreed that costs could be cut without making cuts to the front line.
Jack Dromey, the Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington, said there was "dismay" in his constituency that Birmingham was being hit harder by spending cuts than the "leafy shires" of the Home Counties.
"Why have the Tories got it in for Birmingham?" he asked.
Cameron said the coalition in Birmingham council was doing a "great job".
James Clappison (Con, Hertsmere) accused Labour of handing back part of Britain's EU rebate without getting anything in return.
Cameron agreed.
"The rebate was given up and it wasn't given up for any proper promise in return," he said.
Labour's Kelvin Hopkins said savage cuts were set to destroy 500,000 jobs in the public sector and the same number in the private sector.
Cameron said that since this time last year there were 400,000 more people in private sector jobs.
Andrew Selous (Con, South West Bedfordshire) also praised his local council and said other councils should follow its example.
Cameron repeated his phrase that cutting back office costs did not mean front line services had to suffer.
Bristol East Labour MP Kerry McCarthy said the "callous and uncaring" government was hurting people with severe disabilities as a result of cuts.
Cameron said the extra investment in the NHS was helping people, investment that would not have happened under Labour.
Jason MaCartney (Con, Colne Valley) called for greater help for charities.
Cameron said measures in the Budget ensured that more had been done to help the voluntary sector.
Tony Lloyd (Lab, Manchester Central) said more needed to be done to tackle the "cancer" that is child poverty.
Cameron said there had been no increase in child poverty as a result of the Budget and said it was time for a "more mature cross-party debate".
Tory Greg Hands said three of London's top rated councils had saved money by combining back office staff.
The prime minister said the £35m savings showed front line services did not have to be cut.
Mike Gapes (Lab, Ilford South) raised concerns that the government was scrapping the obligation on local authorities to provide allotments for people. He said local food was part of "British values".
Cameron said he was concerned by the report too but had discovered it was not the case the obligation had been scrapped.
Mark Menzies, Conservative MP for Fylde, praised his local council for cutting the pay of its chief executive rather than cutting front line services.
Cameron said transparency rules that meant every council had to declare spending over £500 had helped.
Labour's Michael Meacher warned that private sector borrowing was set to rise.
Cameron said the government's job was to get control of government borrowing.
Mary Glindon (Lab, North Tyneside) asked "what political words of comfort" the prime minister had for "his beleaguered deputy" ahead of tomorrow's elections.
Cameron acknowledged that he and Nick Clegg disagreed over AV. But he said the reason for having a coalition government was as good an argument now as it was a year ago.
Rory Stewart (Con, Penrith and The Border) spoke about the importance of the Olympics and Royal Wedding for the image of Britain.
Cameron said 2012 would show "all faces of Britain" both "modern and traditional".
Alison McGovern (Lab, Wirral South) spoke about the quality of care for older people in hospitals.
Cameron said the NHS and social services should be better linked up to help care for older people.
Lib Dem Bob Russell said that in last year's general election 49 per cent of votes went to the Conservatives but they got an unfair 95 per cent of the parliamentary seats. He said this was an outcome that would "embarrass Robert Mugabe".
"Other than the fact Essex is now a Labour free zone, does the prime minister think that result was fair?" he asked.
Cameron said in Colchester, Russel's seat, everyone had one vote, voted once, and he won.
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