Harman vs Hague

Sketch By Laura Kuenssberg BBC political correspondent

A bit of history in the house - Harriet Harman was the first female Labour minister to take prime minister's questions on behalf of the government.

Ms Harman has been criticised for wearing a stab proof vest

That will not have been lost on her, a long-time campaigner for women's rights, and the Minister for Women too, just one of her confusing number of jobs.

And it was something the shadow foreign secretary, William Hague, one of the sharpest Parliamentary performers, was quick to point out.

He congratulated her, but could not resist the lure of a political dig, reminding MPs that it was Mrs Thatcher who was the first woman to take PMQs, nearly three decades ago.

'Seen not heard'

Ms Harman had clearly prepared for that, and retaliated by asking Mr Hague why it was him, not Theresa May, her official opposite number, who was standing in for David Cameron.

She asked if it reflected the state of the modern Tory party, where "women should be seen and not heard ... She, (Theresa May), should not let him get away with it!".

Presumably when she goes to a cabinet meeting, she dresses as a clown William Hague

There were guffaws and laughs all around. Surprise perhaps on some faces, that Ms Harman, not known for her humour, had cracked a joke, and one that had the desired effect.

It was not exactly off the cuff, but it did the job. A sign of the influence of one of Ms Harman's advisers perhaps, a former stand-up comedian?

And it did not stop there. With Ms Harman pictured in many of the newspapers wearing a police stab vest while in her own constituency, Mr Hague had plenty of ammunition.

MPs' laughter

Ms Harman's defence had been that she was dressing like the police officers on the visit; she was only being polite, she said.

He said, if she dressed appropriately for every situation, "presumably when she goes to a cabinet meeting, she dresses as a clown".

Ms Harman reminded Mr Hague of his own style mistakes

More gales of laughter - MPs were really starting to enjoy themselves, after what some feel has been a rather stale few weeks of exchanges between Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

Again though, it seemed that the deputy leader of the party had prepared. She dismissed Mr Hague's criticism saying she would not take fashion advice from anyone who had worn a baseball cap.

For those who had tried to consign it to memory, she was referring to William Hague's ill-conceived public sporting of headgear during his leadership of the Conservatives.

It was meant to show he was in touch with young people, but instead it made him a target of ridicule. So with neither of them scoring fashion points, it was on to the economy.

Both sides fared well enough on this knockabout on the impact of the scrapping of the 10p income tax rate, Mr Hague insisting 5 million families would be worse off under the new rules.

Ms Harman insisted that the overall tax burden was lower than it was under the last Conservative government.

They were never going to agree on that, but at the end of a very lively session of PMQs, they might agree never to take style tips from each other. Trinny and Susannah they are not.

When Ms Harman sat down there were audible cries, "well done Harriet!".

She may have been elected deputy leader of the Labour party, but she has not always been the most popular MP on the benches.

Her colleagues will be relieved that her first session of PMQs will be remembered more for mirth not mistakes.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version