James Forsyth James Forsyth

PMQs Live Blog

Brown starts with condolences for the families of a solider killed in Afghanistan and the hostages who were murdered in Iraq.

We start with a patsy question from a Labour backbencher about housing.

Cameron goes straight in on whether Brown was accurate in what he told the House last week about spending. Darling looks particularly glum as Brown replies.

Brown thumps the table saying the Tories will spend less every year than Labour. But that is not what Cameron is asking. Cameron keeps pushing for a correction of what Brown said last week. Brown reels off a list of figures but he looks distinctly uncomfortable.

Cameron has a bit of fun with the Sunday Times report about how Darling and Cooper disagreed with the 10 percent line last week. Cameron pushes Brown again for a correction. Brown tries once more to change the topic. Cameron hits him with line ‘He can’t give a straight answer and he’s not a big enough man to admit he got it wrong.’ Brown barks back and that’s the end of that exchange.

Clegg joins in the public spending attack. Brown fluffs his response suggesting the Conservative won’t cut before catching himself.

Clegg proposes cuts, saying these our ideas what are yours? Brown dodges.

Another patsy Labour question on 10 percent cuts, Labour really do think this is a winner. 

A Tory asks if Brown has had any communication with McBride and to write to the Standards Commissioner to confirm his answer. Brown says no but ignores the second part of the question.
 
A question about Burma.

Martin Salter, the man who delivered Labour MPs for Bercow, congratulates him.  

Mark Harper urges the PM to follow Ali Campbell’s advice and remove the provision which leads to an MP who is sectioned losing his seat.  Brown says not much in response.

A planted question about the Tory’s new European group.

The last question is from Susan Kramer on Sri Lanka.

Bercow then makes a couple of points.

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