PMQs Liveblog: November 10th

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

12.30: Harman was comfortable and confident today. Although there were few rhetorical flourishes, there didn’t need to be. The open goal presented by Nick Clegg’s phenomenal u-turn on fees combined with today’s student demonstration was one that Harman couldn’t miss, and she didn’t. Deadpan questions pointing out Clegg’s total inconsistency, a good gag comparing the coalition to freshers week and a stumbling, fumbling performance from Nick Clegg meant that Harman was a comfortable victor. The jeers from around the house were deafening at times – the Labour benches really hate Clegg don’t they? – and the deputy PM was struggling. He picked up later on, but his answers never really took off. A comfortable win for Harriet today, and not much support for Clegg from his uncomfortable looking MPs. The Tories though, looked delighted.

12.29: Tom Blenkinsop goes in with a very tough question – “apart from giving the vote to rapists, murderers and paedophiles, what other election promises has he kept?” That’s some rough stuff from the Labour backbenches, and Clegg shrugs it off.

12.23: Emily Thornberry attempts to nail Nick Clegg over the by asking if he’d agree with the Tory proposals in a perfect economic environment. He fails to answer. Again. Flounders again. Then attacks Labour. I think we can call that a yes then…

12.21: It really does seem there are a great deal of inconsistencies over the implementation of a new tuition fees system – and this PMQs has been dominated by them. Clegg really couldn’t have found a worse PMQs to cover.

12.19: Sheila Gilmore asks why the burden of debt is being passed from state to students if this is just a temporary deficit deduction measure. The Lib Dem research department must hate Clegg – seemingly they didn’t realise how wrong their policies were until the Tories/civil servants told them so…

12.17: Gavin Shuker asks why Clegg hasn’t responded to an NUS invite to address the crowd at today’s protest. He simply says “we have a policy” – what a brilliant response…

12.15: Chi Onwurah asks an excellent question of Clegg – why was Sheffield Forgemasters refused a loan when other similar deals have been waved through. Again, Clegg is flustered and doesn’t seem to have an answer. The barracking in the house is horrendous this week – Clegg isn’t popular is he?

12.13: Tom Greatrex MP asks why Danny Alexander is online opposing forestry sales, but is proposing them in government. Clegg leans aggressively over the dispatch box and makes jokes towards Harriet Harman. Like a Tory. Exactly like a Tory. I wonder how equalities minister Lynne Featherstone feels?

12.12: Clegg’s done it. He’s brought out party greivances. That’s incredibly rich, but will he be made to pay for it?

12.10: Clegg is claiming that graduate tax is “more unfair” than high tuition fees (someone call the IFS) – Harman says that Clegg was hawking himself around universities, and he’d ditched his promises by freshers week.

12.09: Clegg is really struggling here today. He hasn’t answered a question, he looks incredibly uncomfortable, but the Tories behind him look incredibly relaxed. Smug even…

12.07: Big laughs for Harriet Harman as she compares the coalition to freshers week “You meet a dodgy bloke, you do things you regret”.

12.05: Atter a floundering response from Clegg, with jeers from across the house. Harman then strikes back with another Clegg quote, calling fees a disaster. Clegg is still trying to claim that these fees are progressive. The cheers from behind him are hardly supportive…

12.03: Harriet Harman leads off with university tuition fees – and asks Clegg to update the house on how his plans to abolish tuition fees are progressing…

12.00: Clegg leads off with an explanation of Cameron’s trip to China, talks of rememberance day, and sends the government’s best wishes to Ed Miliband.

11.55: Speaking on the Daily Politics, Douglas Alexander said that Woolas is under an “administrative suspension”.

11.35: Ed Miliband may be away on paternity leave this week, but we’re still here with our PMQs liveblog. Harriet Harman will be deputising for Ed today, and will face Nick Clegg across the dispatch box. WHat will Harman go for today? Well with a demonstration taking place outside Parliament this morning on tuition fees, Clegg must be dreading facing questions on that topic (especially with his track record). Luton South MP Gavin Shuker has already said he’ll be asking Clegg a question on fees today as well.

As for Clegg, would he dare refer to whispers of discontent on the Labour ebnches over Woolas, or will he avoid that topic, for fear that Harman might remind him of the discontent on his benches, and some of the Lib Dem leaflets that have been distributed in recent years…?