PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 30 April 2008
Before proceedings got underway Mr Speaker warned MPs they risked bringing the House into disrepute by barracking each other.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 23 April 2008
Everyone expected this week's PMQs to be dominated by the government's difficulties with the abolition of the 10p rate of income tax: the media was poised, the leader of the opposition had his carefully-sharpened questions at the ready.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 2 April 2008
Harriet Harman - once dubbed "Harriet Harperson" because she is so politically correct - became the first ever Labour female politician to be asked questions to the prime minister.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 26 March 2008
Prime minister's questions is the Commons session when a good degree of tribal booing is indulged, but this week MPs - particularly on the Labour benches - were unusually full-throated.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 19 March 2008
With the papers full of panic about a world economic downturn we might have expected a continuation of the Budget debate but the opposition party leaders, at least, had other matters on their minds.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 12 March 2008
It being Budget day, prime minister's questions was little more than the warm-up act for Alistair Darling and a Budget that sounded as if it needed all the warming up it could get.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 5 March 2008
Gordon Brown accused Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg of trying to transport the Commons back to the 1970s this week, with his call for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 27 February 2008
Who says British people are apathetic? As MPs gathered for PMQs hundreds of remarkably similar looking protesters (retired, white, middle class, home counties) were demonstrating at the lack of a referendum on the EU reform treaty, while up on the roof green campaigners were attacking plans for a third Heathrow runway.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 20 February 2008
You can bet there were many places Gordon Brown would rather be on his 57th birthday than in the chamber for prime minister's questions.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 6 February 2008
Normally politicians like nothing better than an attentive audience but not when it is the security services listening into a private conversation with a constituent, as was apparently the case with Sadiq Khan MP.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 30 January 2008
With accusations of sleaze dominating the front pages and the rolling news channels, visitors to the public gallery might have been surprised to hear barely a whisper about money troubles at prime minister's questions this week.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 23 January 2008
Prime minister's question time was dominated by Northern Rock but with Jacqui Smith's nocturnal snacking in SE15 and Only Fools and Horses being raised, Peckham provided an unlikely sub-plot.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 16 January 2008
As is now traditional at prime minister's questions, proceedings began with a whips' planted enquiry designed to give Gordon Brown a friendly warm up and use as much time as possible.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 9 January 2008
It was the first prime minister's question time since the festive break but any hopes of a fresh approach in 2008 were quickly dashed.
PMQs - The Verdict
Blog Article 12 December 2007
It was the last prime minister's questions before Christmas but there was precious little generosity of spirit on offer in the chamber.
