Moves to reform rowdy PM's Questions: Cross-party backing for procedural changes

PRIME Minister's Questions in the Commons looks likely to be reformed after both John Major and Tony Blair gave their backing to changing the procedures.

The move to reform the twice-weekly 15-minute exchanges follows growing criticism that the Commons clashes have become so stage- managed and rowdy that they are bringing the House into disrepute.

Paddy Ashdown, the Liberal Democrat leader, who has campaigned for change, was jeered yesterday - as usual - by both Tory and Labour MPs when he intervened at Prime Minister's Questions to support Mr Major's move for reform.

In future, Mr Major said, MPs should table questions on any topic 24 hours before the sessions to allow answers to be fully prepared. That would help to make it more relevant, he said. But his proposals will have to be agreed by the cross-party Commons select committee on procedure, chaired by the Tory MP Sir Peter Emery.

Mr Blair said he supported the Prime Minister's idea of making Question Time more relevant, but he insisted that the Prime Minister must remain accountable.

Labour MPs were divided last night. One leading Labour MP said: 'It has become a complete farce and it should be changed. Otherwise, we might as well give up the questions and just cheer for our own side. We could come in with spears and banners.'

But Dennis Skinner, the 'beast of Bolsover' who has received fan mail from America for his interventions at Prime Minister's Questions, said: 'I think the Prime Minister is running away because he cannot handle the House of Commons as well as Wilson or Margaret Thatcher.'

Lady Thatcher changed the style of Prime Minister's Questions by allowing the so- called 'open question' on her engagements for the day to be used by MPs to question her about any issue.

The veteran Labour MP Tam Dalyell said he believed those gradual changes played into her hands because she could not be pinned down on a single issue. Labour MPs failed to coordinate their questions, and Lady Thatcher was rarely caught off guard. She was highly briefed, and could 'swing the handbag' at Neil Kinnock when the briefing failed.

Mr Major attempted to introduce a more relaxed style, but under his leadership the anxiety to produce a successful sound bite for the evening news broadcast has increased for both sides.

Labour under John Smith and, since his death, Margaret Beckett, has adopted the habit of pressing three questions in the 15-minute session, leaving less time for backbenchers. Mr Major complained that it has now degenerated to point- scoring. But that is the nature of politics. MPs rarely ask questions at Question Time because they want to know the answer.

The opposing camps have increased the stage managing of PMQs by handing out prepared questions to their MPs. What may appear to be open questioning of a leader in a democracy has become a charade, but changing it may kill the spectacle.