PMQs as-it-happened
11:20 – Here we are again. Is there anything particularly exciting about this PMQs? Not really. It is the first since Miliband's move toward austerity last week. He actually furrowed a pretty interesting space – limitations on spending, but via long-term action like house building rather than crack downs on families. Nevertheless, he did back George Osborne's cap on benefit spending, so he'll be hammered for that today. Cameron will try out a few well-prepared lines. The PM will also be keen to promote the EU referendum bill and ask Labour questions about how it plans to vote. The employment figures were roughly unchanged – some improvements here and there but not enough for the government carp. The usual caveats apply: I apologise in advance for typos, they will be corrected later. Anything offensive is not my fault. If I am forced to apologise it will be of the classical political variety: I am SORRY that YOU chose to be offended. And finally, I apologise for not being able to elevate the level of political debate you are about to endure. You've only yourself to blame. I tried to warn you.
11:41 – Ivan Lewis is currently acting for Labour in international development questions. He's against Tory frontbencher Justine Greening. It's like rubbing two rocks together and calling it music.
11:46 – International development questions are hard to mock. They are full of MPs asking questions about issues which prompt little interest from the press. Rushanara Ali, shadow international development minister, asked about an appeal for Syrian refugees. I haven't had much experience of her Commons performances. She seems competent but unremarkable.
11:53 – In person Greening is commendably upbeat. Unfortunately, the front bench disease has firmly taken hold and her answers are mostly dull and lifeless. In a few years she will look back wistfully at the days when she was a fresh faced MP, capable of something approximating independent thought.
11:56 – "Can I congratulate the secretary of state for achieving her achievement?" Yep, that just happened.
12:00 – Lynne Featherstone sits on the front bench looking increasingly beset by despair. And we're off.
12:02 – The first question is on the NHS. Standard attack, Standard defence. Nothing to see here, on you go.
12:03 – Graham Stuart (Con, struggling) can’t quite get his question out because of the noise. It’s unfair. He sits in a wheelchair so is away from the microphone and has to exert himself more than others. His pitch for an EU referendum gets the requisite reply. Cameron says Labour can make its choice on the 5th of July. Miliband is up.
12:05 – Miliband leads on supplying weapons to Syrian rebels. Given Russia will supply on the other side, is it realistic to try to tip the balance in this way. They are using statesmanlike tones, as is common on foreign affairs. Cameron thanks him for raising the issue and says he'll be chatting to Putin before the G8 meeting. Cameron says the opposition are legitimate spokespeople for the Syrian people. "Yes, that does help tip the balance so Assad can see he can't win this by military means alone."
12:06 – Miliband is respectful, but says that didn’t answer the question. What are the safeguards to make sure the weapons are only used to defend civilians? Cameron veers off course, saying the end of the embargo is to send a message but that he hasn’t decided yet whether to send the weapons. On the question: He says there are safeguards but doesn’t say what they are.
12:07 – Miliband: "I quoted his words not about non-lethal equipment but lethal equipment. My question is what will those safeguards be. I didn't hear an answer." Miliband wants a vote on this, even if it needs a recall of parliament.
12:08 – Cameron: "On the issue of safeguards, we are not supplying the opposition with weapons. We made no decision to supply the opposition with weapons." That was very bad – Cameron is being evasive on a hugely important topic. He will have a vote on it, though, he says. "We have made no decision to arm the rebels in Syria." Miliband splits his questions, presumably to make way for a more robust, party-political attack later.
12:11 – Miliband again. He mentions the 5,000 fall in unemployment figure published today. But three years into the coalition living standards continue to fall. Cameron jumps on the mention of the figures. People in work are going up and unemployment is going down, he says. Big cheers. 5,000, by the way, is within the margin of error. We've lost 100,000 jobs in the public sector and five times that many created in the private sector, he adds. Miliband: "He's into his fourth year as prime minister and his excuse for falling living standards is 'don't blame me, I'm only prime minister.'"
12:14 – Miliband focuses wisely on living standards, saying they have fallen by an average of £13,000 a year. Cameron makes good work of it by saying the IFA figures come from 2008. Good response from Cameron. Miliband is getting a little bleaty: "No answer from this prime minister". He quotes a Tory MP saying Cameron saying the party was waiting "for the inevitable" – at general election time. Tories get excited. "Calm down, "Miliband says.”The crimson tide is back" – that's a reference to Cameron getting red faced, which he isn't. Cameron: "Only someone who wants to talk down our economy…"
12:17 – Not a bad little exchange. Revealed nothing of course, and bereft of wit or logic, but not quite as infuriating as usual. Miliband appeared much more pensive and authoritative on Syria than the PM, but Cameron played the Punch and Judy game better. Snap verdict: Cameron: 2 Miliband: 2.
12:19 – David Crausby (Lab, unreconstructed) celebrates Bolton Wanderers for rejecting sponsorship from a payday loans company. Cameron says he "hears what he says and wishes Bolton wanderers support for the future". Magnificent avoidance of the demand there. Julian Huppert gets up to ask a question, and the House greets him with its traditional scorn. Bercow manages to quieten the MPs down a bit. Huppert asks something about carers.
12:22 – Mary MacLeod (Con, orange jacket of unspeakable horror) insists the Tories' economic plan is working. That's clearly false, but Cameron has got himself into an enviable position on pensions. He is able to say that Labour would cut them. This isn't true on its own, but it is in context. It’s potentially very dangerous for Miliband. Annette Brooke (Lib Dem, very sweet) says a company in her constituency makes lava lamps, the old hippy. It's having some problems, she wants the PM to have a look at what’s going on. Groovy. Sorry.
12:26 – Richard Harrington (Con, A Single Man gone wrong) asks about trade with China. Cameron gives him assurances.
12:28 – John Bercow almost loses his cool altogether while trying to keep control of the Labour benches. They really are very badly behaved today. Interesting fact of the day from Cameron: One in four albums sold in Europe is made in the UK.
12:30 – TImes up but we're still going – Bercow's punishment for rowdy MPs. Yes, I know, it is exactly like school.
12:32 – Henry Bellingham (Con, looks like he lives in a manor) asks about the British car industry. I didn’t think there was one. Cameron says the task is to get as much of their supply chain on shore as possible. Catherine McKinnell (Lab, earnest) starts talking but is interrupted by an MP celebrating a 'Geordie girl'. She tries to keep talking but another MP shouts: "Come on John", urging Bercow to intervene. Cameron jumps on it to mock Labour. He asks Miliband if he will undo the bedroom tax. "Are yer? Are yer?"
12:34 – Good position for him that one. He can ask questions from the dispatch box and Miliband has no chance to answer, making Cameron look dominant. He then asks about reports of Labour offering a donor advice on evading taxes. "He asked me to calm down but I can't calm down because this is money which should be going into our health service," Cameron says. "Will you give the money back? Yes or no?" Very strong period for the prime minister. Tory MPs love it. Chants of 'More'. If I revised that snap verdict, I'd now hand it to Cameron.
12:36 – The Telegraph are reporting that Tom Harris is leaving the Labour front bench.
12:37 – And with that, the session ends, nearly ten minutes over time. Aside from a good period on Syria, there will have been plenty to concern Miliband there. He has serious weak spots on pensions and his donor and Cameron appears to have regained some of his mojo. We'll be back next week, see you then.
