Ed Miliband’s first PMQs – Liveblog

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

12.30: PMQs finishes with a question from the Tory benches about public sector pay. A good first PMQs for Ed Miliband – full verdict to follow.

12.28: Kevin Brennan asks if Nick Clegg’s promises are worth anything after he went back on his promise to students over tuition fees.

12.26: Tory backbencher Margot James brings up Claire Rayner’s final words about Cameron not damaging the NHS. He commits to invest in the NHS. Questions on the PMS and trespassing follow.

12.23: David Cameron manages to “not hear” a question about the winter fuel allowance. On the second go, he claims he made a proimise about that at the election. He also made promises about child benefit though…

12.22: Tories raise the subject of a graduate tax. Questions from the back benches are being used to try and goad Ed Miliband into discussion of difficult issues.

12.20: Part-privatisation of the Royal Mail up next, and the Tories have taken the opportunity to tie Labour to the policy, before the debate moves back onto Linda Norgrove courtesy of an SNP MP.

12.18: Questions on the World Cup and Northern Ireland calm some of the passions in the house. So far Ed Miliband seems to have had a good PMQs.

12.15: Ed Miliband says that child benefit was such a shambles, perhaps the PM wishes the BBC blackout had gone ahead, and asks if Cameron will think again. Cameron responds by accusing Labour of squeezing the middle – and says Ed’s “not red, but brown”.

12.13: Ed Miliband says that a section of society is facing cuts, on the same level as 6p on the basic rate of income tax, and asks if Cameron thinks that is fair?

12.12: David Cameron responds to Ed Miliband quoting the PM’s words by quoting Alan Milburn’s words back at him – which didn’t really pack the punch.

12.10: Ed Miliband demands straight answers from Cameron, and says he has got 0/2 so far. He says he’s not defending the rich – he’s defending deputy head teachers, and that the PM used to agree with him. He quotes back Cameron’s comments about child benefit before the election. “I agree with the Prime Minister, who doesn’t he?”. Good stuff from Ed Miliband.

12.08: First zinger from Ed Miliband – “I know I’m new…but I ask the questions and he answers them”. The atmosphere is heating up.

12.07: Ed Miliband says that Labour will back the government on many benefit reforms, but asks how many families will be affected by child benefit changes. Ed appears to have taken a lot of the sting out of the early exchanges.

12.04: Ed Miliband joins the Prime Minister in paying tribute to each of the soldiers killed in combat, naming each soldier individually, before speaking movingly of Linda Norgrove – and backing the decisions taken by the foreign secretary. His first question is on Linda Norgrove – asking what his discussions with President Obama have brought about. Cameron responds that there is no new information.

12.01: PMQs begins with Prime Minister paying tribute to soldiers who have recently died in combat, as well as Linda Norgrove, whow as killed last week during attempts to free her from her captors. The Tories open with a jibe about David Miliband from David Evennett MP, which Cameron attempts to combine with criticism of AV and trade unions.

12.00: The chamber is full, and Ed Miliband is in his seat…

11.55: The Prime Minister has taken his seat in the commons as DFID questions winds down – Ed Miliband’s first PMQs as Labour leader is only a matter of moments away.

11.50: Kerry McCarthy – now a member of Labour’s shadow treasury team – has blogged on the build up to PMQs, including the all important running order for questions.

11.46: According to William Green (political editor of the Newcastle Journal), David Miliband won’t be in the chamber for PMQs today. It’s unclear whether or not Gordon Brown will be there to see how his permenant successor performs.

11.39: In just over twenty minutes Ed Miliband will face off against David Cameron in his first round of Prime Minister’s Questions. Some have already attempted to hype up the encounter, with Iain Dale suggesting that this first tussle will play a big part in defining Ed Miliband’s leadership, and that he can’t make a mistake. While that’s obviously not the case (does anyone remember David Cameron’s first PMQs?), it is important to make the best impression possible.

In reality, Ed will just be feeling his way today and the final contours of his leadership style, or his abilities in the chamber, won’t become clear until much later. After all, Cameron used his first PMQs as leader of the opposition to discuss the environment, having promised an end to “punch and judy” politics. That seems a long time ago now.

What will be genuinely interesting will be the policy areas that Ed chooses to tackle with his questions. Expect to hear questions on the economy today, as well as higher education funding reform (although he must be careful not to walk into a bear trap on that one). Ed would also do well to consider Brian Barder’s suggestion that PMQs are used for the asking of questions, and reasonable opposition – a real end to “punch and judy politics”, and perhaps a style befitting of “the new generation”.