The Full Story: PM's questions

Harman stands in for Brown at prime minister's questions

POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT VICKY YOUNG'S VERDICT

With Gordon Brown busy in Iraq, it was Harriet Harman's task to spread some Christmas cheer before MPs head off for their holiday - but no-one was really getting into the festive spirit.

The news that British troops will return from Iraq next year seemed to have been greeted positively by all sides, but the Tories chose not to dwell on that.

Instead William Hague pressed Ms Harman on when there would be an independent inquiry into the war.

Her answer - that this wouldn't happen until troops had completed their task - seemed slightly out of date given the earlier news.

But the economy once again dominated exchanges with Labour keen to portray the Tories as the do-nothing party and the Conservatives attacking ministers for racking up excessive debt and not providing enough help to small businesses.

Mr Hague took issue with the government's announcement of a new redundancy package. This he said, was a re-announcement of a re-announcement and we weren't supposed to just get repeats at Christmas.

That was about as festive as it got, although the ever-loyal Ms Harman did have a repeat of her own - the joke she trialled at business questions last week that Labour would rather have superman as its leader than a party led by a joker.

Ho, ho, ho.

DAILY POLITICS PUNDITS GIVE THEIR VIEWS

The Daily Politics' analysis of Prime Minister's Questions.

AS IT HAPPENED: BY JUSTIN PARKINSON

1304 With the thought of Mr Phillips (right) bringing colour to politics at what is a grim time for many - and following a rather dull PMQs - it is time to bring our live text coverage for 2008 to an end. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and please join us again for the next session in January.

1256 Veteran actor Leslie Phillips, on Daily Politics to advocate the importance of safer cycling, reveals he has considered running for London mayor. Would he have begun press conferences by silkily saying "helloooooo"? There is always 2012. Boris beware.

1247 Labour MP Jim McGovern, who quit as a junior member of the government earlier over plans to part-privatise Royal Mail, tells the BBC it was a "matter of conscience". Several party colleagues are known to share his doubts, but no question was asked about the matter at PMQs.

1244 On speculation over a general election in February, BBC political editor Nick Robinson says there is little evidence of any Labour activity. It seems to be a result of recent opinion polls, he adds.

1240 Lord Heseltine says Gordon Brown is the "best show in town" at the moment, accounting for some of the bounce in Labour's popularity. He predicts this attitude will change as the downturn worsens.

1238 Lord Heseltine tells Daily Politics that no-one really knows what is happening to the economy or what to do about it. People are "floundering", he adds.

1235 BBC political editor Nick Robinson says PMQs was little more than "shadow boxing" ahead of the "next announcement" on economic rescue packages.

1234 PMQs is over. The economy dominated, but passions were not raised on either side of the House. It was a surprise that the Royal Mail was not mentioned.

1232 Labour's Adrian Bailey asks about school-building in his West Bromwich West constituency. Ms Harman says refurbishing schools is important for children and the construction industry.

1230 Some MPs are yawning, and a few are leaving the chamber. This must be the quietest PMQs in some time.

1228 In response to a Tory question, Ms Harman says government debt has fallen. But it must now rise to enable action on the economy, she adds.

1228 Ms Harman says there has been no government policy change on open-cast mining.

1227 Ms Harman says that, from April, the right for parents to request flexible working will be extended to all those with children under the age of 16.

1225 Tory Mark Pritchard says the government is not giving the armed forces enough protection in Iraq. Ms Harman says they will have the "full range" of equipment needed.

1225 Plaid Cymru's Elfyn Llwyd asks when the battle for hearts and minds in Afghanistan will be won. Ms Harman says development programmes in the country will be vital for this.

1223 Labour's Laura Moffatt attacks the attitude of the Tory council in her Crawley constituency towards free swimming.

1223 Tory Nigel Waterson asks about benefit calculations for pensioners. Ms Harman says the government's policies have most benefited this group wince 1997.

1222 The atmosphere in the chamber is subdued - these final sessions normally have a bit more of a demob happy mood.

1221 Mr Cable accuses ministers of being complacent in helping housing associations, while it gives much more aid to banks. Ms Harman says the action to help banks has been essential to helping stabilise the property market.

1219 Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable says the housing market is in a similar situation to when Labour was in power in 1924. An MP shouts out, to laughter, that Mr Cable remembers that time.

1218 In response to another question Ms Harman says she will recommend the prime minister attends an exhibition in Parliament on the suffragette movement.

1217 Sticking to issues facing businesses, Mr Hague says the government has achieved nothing. Referring to Gordon Brown's slip at last week's PMQs, he jokes: "If this is a prime minister saving the world, then God help the rest of the solar system." In a dig at David Cameron, Ms Harman replies she would rather have Superman leading the country than a Joker. The Speaker has to intervene to calm things down as Tory MPs point out she used the same joke last week. She says, to laughter, that what is apparently Mr Hague's website still says he is the Tory leader.

1213 Tories cheer as Mr Hague attacks the government's record. He talks of the worst retail downturn since records began, claiming the temporary VAT cut from 17.5% to 15% is not working. Ms Harman warns him not to talk down the economy.

1210 The atmosphere is subdued as Mr Hague accuses the government of re-announcing policies. Christmas should not be all about "repeats", he jokes in a reference to seasonal TV schedules. Ms Harman says the Tories would "make matters worse" for the economy by cutting public spending.

1209 Things are getting harder for people and businesses, Mr Hague says. A national loan guarantee scheme is needed, he adds. Ms Harman says £1.3bn extra is going to job centres and says unemployment is still about 600,000 lower than when Labour gained power in 1997.

1208 Mr Hague moves on to unemployment, saying more must be done to enable business to borrow. Ms Harman says anyone losing a job suffers a "terrible blow", while ministers are stepping up protections for people. She says the banks have been recapitalised to stabilise them and more will happen next year.

1205 Mr Hague is up. He makes a joke that the news of ending UK military involvement in Iraq was leaked last week but no-one was arrested. Ms Harman promises a further statement by Mr Brown on Thursday.

1203 Labour's Brian Donohoe says energy firms must pass on lower costs to consumers. Ms Harman says she agrees and says the law will be changed otherwise.

1202 And we're off. Ms Harman lets MPs know Gordon Brown is in Iraq and sends condolences to the family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan.

1200 Mr Hague and Ms Harman have arrived.

1159 Justice Secretary Jack Straw is in his customary position on the Labour front bench, while Chancellor Alistair Darling is also in place. Almost time.

1157 It is a beautiful, crisp winter's day in Westminster. Meanwhile, the chamber is more than half full. BBC political editor Nick Robinson tells Daily Politics there is "plenty" to discuss, despite the end-of-term feeling.

1153 Lord Heseltine says UK business not "seen anything like the worst" of the the downturn yet. He adds that the government has not done much to restore confidence and that the recession will be "painful".

1153 Lord Kinnock tells BBC Two's Daily Politics that the government is acting to ensure unemployment is kept to a minimum through the economic crisis. Ms Harman is likely to follow a similar line during PMQs.

1152 Among the topics likely to crop up this week are the economy (especially as this is Mr Cable's brief for the Lib Dems), the VAT cut, overpaid pensions, unemployment, the future of the Royal Mail, and Iraq. It's all serious stuff but Ms Harman and Mr Hague, in the past, seem unable to resist a dig at each other. Mr Cable - who last year described Gordon Brown as having gone "from Stalin to Mr Bean" - is no stranger to mockery either.

1149 At the moment MPs are discussing international development matters. There is a fair smattering of them within the Commons chamber as International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander outlines government policy on aid to people in Zimbabwe.

1146 While it is the day of the deputies in the Commons, two big beasts of the 1980s and 1990s - former Labour leader Lord Kinnock and former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine - are joining BBC Two's Daily Politics to offer their analysis and, possibly, advice.

1143 Hello and welcome to our coverage of the last PMQs of the year. As Gordon Brown is in Iraq, the leaders of the main parties will be replaced with stand-ins. For Labour, Harriet Harman takes over, while William Hague represents the Tories and Vince Cable the Liberal Democrats. All three are known for enjoying a joke or two during PMQs, so expect a bit of fun to see the Westminster troops off for Christmas. Join in the debate with Have Your Say.

YOUR VIEWS

Have Your Say "Can you tell me how increasing the national debt by excessive borrowing is good for our country's economy? It has not inspired confidence in our economy has it?"
Jobrite, Worthing, UK

Have Your Say "Further to Mr Cable's question of Harriet Harman regarding the 10% earnings assumption on pensioners' savings... Ms Harman's reply gave a new and apposite meaning to the term 'claptrap'!"
Mad Saver, Grimsby, UK

Have Your Say "It tells you everything that Gordon "I saved the world" Brown would rather be in Iraq than face Prime Minister's Questions"
RobertTigerWest

Have Your Say "It's good to see that these people are taking the current economic mess seriously, as usual. With regards to the "end of term feel about Westminster" are they allowed to bring games in? These people run the country, god help us!"
Nick Taylor, Liverpool, UK

Have Your Say "What has been achieved in Iraq? Does the Honourable Lady accept that terrorism in Britain is a direct result of our invasion of that country?"
Colin, UK

Have Your Say "What is the governemt doing to help those who are having to pay CSA payments but can barely keep our heads above the water with our own expenses especially during this financial crisis"
Dee, Bolton

Have Your Say "With the likelihood of unemployment reaching 2.5million by June 09, is it prudent to bring back troops, many of whom will be decommissioned? These men will want a decent life, they have earned it, what will the government promise with guarantees?"
Robert Lowe, St Petersburg, Russia