Prime Minister's Questions on same day as Thatcher's funeral 'a bit odd'

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has suggested it would be “a bit odd” to go ahead with Prime Minister's Questions on the day of Baroness Thatcher's funeral.

David Cameron's weekly session at the Commons dispatch box is currently scheduled to take place as normal at midday next Wednesday - the day of the funeral at St Paul's Cathedral.

However, Mr Clegg said he expected that Mr Cameron would now be holding discussions with Commons Speaker John Bercow about the arrangements in the House on the day.

"It seems to me that if you have got this major ceremonial funeral on that day, having the knockabout of Prime Minister's Questions at the same time might feel a bit odd, but that is something for the Prime Minister and the Speaker to decide on, as I am sure they will," he said during his weekly radio phone-in on LBC 97.3.

Mr Clegg also strongly condemned parties held by some opponents of Lady Thatcher to celebrate her death.

"It is so out of keeping with the character of us as a nation," he said.

"I disagreed with a lot of the things she did or felt she had to do, but I think it is still right that we try honestly to grapple with all of that and think about the history of what happened to us as a country and not indulge in this, I think, completely puerile, childish stuff of people having parties."

A motion was tabled last night to delay the start of Commons proceedings until 2.30pm on Wednesday - which would mean the cancellation of Prime Minister's Questions.

It is expected to be passed when MPs return to Westminster from their Easter break on Monday.

PA