PMQs liveblog: March 2nd

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Verdict: Not a particularly memorable PMQs, but perhaps one that David Cameron will want to forget.

It all started out so well for the PM. Statesmanlike and sober questioning from Ed Miliband allowed him to give detailed answers which showcased his knowledge and understanding of the situation in Libya. He still felt the need to lash out at the last government, of course, but that’s practically a reflex for him now.

It was only once Miliband began his second set of questions that Cameron began to wobble. Sure Start – something he praised and pledged to defend before the election – is now under threat. Frontline cuts – which he claimed wouldn’t happen and promised wouldn’t be necessary – are happening across the country. Miliband hit the PM with a double whammy – why then are 13 out of 16 sure start centres in Tory-run Bromley closing?

Cameron’s first response to this was bold. He said the money was there. Surely this can’t be true. Is he calling the good Tory Burghers of Bromley liars?

His second response – after a few admittedly witty (yet over-rehearsed) barbs against the opposition leader – was thoroughly baffling though. He began to laugh. He was completely unable to get his words out. His face was red as he strained to form vowels. In theatre parlance, he was “corpsing”. Chuckling Cameron was lost for words.

There were suggestions that Ed Balls was heckling him. Whatever he said was clearly so hilarious to the PM that he quite forgot himself. Parents facing Sure Start closures are unlikely to find his reaction so amusing.

From there on in Cameron, who had probably “won” the early stages of PMQs, went from bad to worse. Former minister Stephen Timms quoted research that called the PM “misleading” over the new deal – Cameron rumbled and grumbled. Tom Blenkinsop MP asked Cameron if Britain had bribed Libya to allow British hostage payments – the Prime Minister smiled and admitted “facilitation payments”. That diplomatic nicety is unlikely to sweeten the pill.

It was a poor performance from the PM. He seemed distracted, and almost nervous. He was quick to anger at all of the wrong times and seemed to run out of steam towards the end of the session. And of course, he barely answered a whole question throughout.

Yet while he may have dodged some questions at PMQs today, on Sure Start, the new deal and Libya, Cameron’s arguments were riddled with holes.

At least one of them will trip him up, in the end.

12.30: That’s all from PMQs today. We’ll be back at 1pm with our PMQs verdict.

12.25: Did Cameron just admit paying bribes to Libya over the evacuation of British nationals after questioning from Tom Blenkinsop? Calling them “facilitation” payments doesn’t sugar the pill.

12.20: Good question from Stephen Timms, who said commons library has checked Cameron’s use of figures on the new deal and judged it “misleading”. Cameron denies it.

12.17: Astonishing how weak Cameron was in response to that final question. He actually couldn’t get his answer out through his laughter. But why was he laughing? Nerves?

12.15: “This is a man who has made his career out of opportunism”. Cameron tries to come back, but he’s being heckled by Ed Balls. He can’t get his words out. He’s struggling his way to the finish.

12.12: Good sustained attack from Ed Miliband, urging the PM to u-turn on early years cuts, but Cameron hits him with a good line “He’ll be lecturing me on family loyalty next”

12.11: Local government cuts – Miliband asks why Tory-run Bromley council is cutting children’s centres if no frontline cuts are needed. Cameron gets angry and shrill. This has touched a nerve.

12.10: Good question on Safer Neighbourhood Teams in London, and how they’re at risk. Cameron doesn’t answer the question, but suggests that Labour left the police force in a poor state.

12.07: There’s a harder line here from Ed Miliband, as he links the potential “no-fly” zone with the redundancy notices handed to RAF pilots. Cameron chooses to attack Labour – how Prime Ministerial… That’s the final question on that topic. He’s question splitting again today.

12.05: Ed’s second question seeks to identify where the plan for a “no-fly” zone currently stands. Cameron is happy to discuss all of the other actions the government are taking. Cameron confirms that the government are looking into it.

12.03: Ed Miliband has kicked off with a sensible, statesmanlike question on Libya, questioning what multi-lateral actions will be undertaken. Are we about to see another low key PMQS?

12.02: A planted question on aid from the Tory backbenches to kick off, which Cameron uses to explain the importance of sustained aid. He glosses over the government’s re-orientation of aid though…

Preview: PMQs returns today after a break last week for parliamentary recess. Last week we reviewed how Ed Miliband has performed so far – good on the whole, but still some improvement needed – so we’re hoping he’s used his Wednesday off to good effect, and that we’ll see him come out fighting today.

There’s plenty of ammunition for Miliband today. He’s already had one swipe at the PM over Libya on Monday, but he could go with troop cuts, which Jim Murphy will be asking an urgent question on immediately after PMQs.

Other than that, Miliband may choose to use PMQs as an opportunity to drive his own campaign up the agenda, as he seeks to highlight the “cost of living crisis“. As people feel the pinch as the economy contracts, it could be a potent line of attack.

Join us from noon for our PMQs liveblog – and our verdict soon afterwards.