Cameron to face first question time

David Cameron is to face his first Prime Minister's question time
12 April 2012

David Cameron faces his first Commons question time as Prime Minister on Wednesday when Parliament returns after a challenging bank holiday break for the premier.

David Laws' resignation as Treasury Chief Secretary and the international diplomatic storm caused by Israel's seizure of aid vessels heading for Gaza will have dominated Mr Cameron's thoughts as he prepares for the parliamentary set piece.

Across the despatch box will be Labour's stand-in leader Harriet Harman, who put in an assured performance against the Prime Minister during debate on the Queen's Speech last week.

But Mr Cameron could face an awkward first question from one of his own backbenchers in the shape of Douglas Carswell, who was an outspoken critic of the PM's attempted reforms of the Tory 1922 Committee and has voiced concerns about capital gains tax increases.

Clacton MP Mr Carswell, whose name is on top of the order paper, has sought to "crowd source" his question by asking for suggestions on his blog - attracting more than 100 ideas ranging from Europe and the economy to the lack of patterned ties in public life.

A handful of new MPs will have the chance to make a high-profile impact, with Nadhim Zahawi (C, Stratford-On-Avon), Toby Perkins (Lab, Chesterfield), Bridget Phillipson (Lab, Houghton and Sunderland South), Neil Carmichael (C, Stroud) and Ian Mearns (Lab, Gateshead) all down to ask the Prime Minister a question.

Mr Cameron should also get an opportunity to set out his thoughts on the war in Afghanistan, the day after an American general took command of 8,000 UK troops in the south of the country and the Government's National Security Council held an "extended session" on the conflict.

Julian Lewis, a Tory frontbencher in opposition who has not made the leap into Government, has a question on the order paper asking what assessment the PM has made of the "effectiveness" of Nato's strategy in Afghanistan.

Mr Cameron will be the first Conservative taking questions as Prime Minister since John Major was ousted in 1997.

But the realities of coalition government mean PMQs will have an even stranger feel - Mr Cameron will be answering on behalf of two parties, so there will be no questions from the "second opposition party" leader. Instead, the man who previously occupied that role - Nick Clegg, now Deputy Prime Minister - is expected to be seated on the Government front bench.

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