Watch with Mumsnet: live-streaming of PMQs with Anushka Asthana, WEDNESDAY at 12 midday

[RowanMumsnet]

You might recall that last month we conducted a survey on the UK's political culture, following on from our work with Mori on women and politics last year.

The results from the survey showed that 76% of respondents called Prime Minister's Questions "unprofessional and outdated" and 80% thought it "ineffective". As one Mumsnetter put it: "Might as well get some preschoolers to call each other poo-heads and be done with it."

Following on from this and our webchat last week, we launched a petition asking the PM to look at ways PMQs could be strengthened. So far, over 55k people have signed.

On Wednesday we'll be streaming PMQs live at 12pm. Come along and watch with us: we'll be joined by Sky News' political correspondent Anushka Asthana for a live webchat before and after to discuss the session.

Anushka wrote the Mumsnet/ Mori report on women voters last year. Before working for Sky News she was a columnist and chief political correspondent for The Times, and before that was at the Observer, where she worked for eight years. Her final role as the newspaper's policy editor saw her working from Westminster writing about politics and people. While there she covered the 2010 General Election and the formation of the Coalition.

Anushka wants to find out a bit more about what you think. What do you like about PMQs? What, if anything, do you feel needs changing? If you don't like, it why not? What could be improved?

Please join us at midday on Wednesday - and as ever, if you can't be there then please use this thread to post up any questions or comments in advance.

Thanks
MNHQ

@Crumblemum

I agree that with Belloc that Ed M leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to PMQs but that's not really the point. I love a lot about PMQs, I think a lot of the questions are spontaneous, and a good question can change the course of events, BUT the rest of the stuff makes it so cringeworthy, the shouting, the barracking, the red faces (Mr Balls), it is just awful. Get a good chair, better rules, pilot a few of the ideas and let's see what happens.

Question fo Anushka, when you're watching live, in real life, what is the noise actually like?

Crumblemum It is pretty loud in there but it is interesting that people often judge it differently on the television than in there. I can come out convinced Ed M has won or vice versa but when watch back looks v different!

That's interesting about the female MPs carrying out an inquiry into rubbish representation levels.

i've seen different things said about whether the questions are open or are planted. How many questions at PMQs does Cameron know are coming?

Things to watch out for:

• does that Prime Minister actually answer the questions? MPs don't have the luxury of coming back if they think David Cameron has failed to answer.

• soundbites. Advisers tell the PM to keep repeating things - unemployment/economy/reducing deficit - because they believe they only break through to voters once everyone in Parliament is horribly bored of them.

• do women get a harder time than men when they stand up? I've often suggested that is the case but jury is still out. Interested in your views.

@ISaidLeaveYourSisterAlone

That's interesting about the female MPs carrying out an inquiry into rubbish representation levels.

i've seen different things said about whether the questions are open or are planted. How many questions at PMQs does Cameron know are coming?

IsaidLeaveYourSisterAlone He knows about a fair few MPs but not the questions. But watch out for planted questions among Tories. Ann Treneman, the Times brilliant sketchwriter, jokes that she is running a "lickspittle" award for backbenchers.

Hi there Anushka,

I'm from the US and remember that in a comparative politics course at the University of Colorado a few years back, our professor showed us a clip of PMQs, which was meant as an intro to British politics. The first reaction was that everyone laughed and thought it looked like British politicians were having a brawl.

I think PMQs is a fantastic British institution, however, should it really be laughable? I'm not sure it works in the current format, with everyone screaming over each other. How do you think PMQs could be improved?

Thanks

Hi Anushka. Wondering who you think gets it right at PMQs - delivering the killer blows that make news or change policy?

That thing about endless repetition annoys me.

Anyone know who the government blames for the mess the country was left in in May 2010? the answer totally escapes me

(suppose this shows that it works)

@claig

Anushka, do you think the Hansard Society's suggestion that

"The number of questions asked by the Leader of the Opposition should also be reduced in order to free up more time for questions from backbenchers."

woud be good?

claig Personally I think it is really important to hear from Ed Miliband because in the end the general election will be about Labour v the Conservatives.

I'm here

Agree, Anushka, it is very important to hear from Ed Miliband and he does a very good job at it and is effective at it.

Oh and it seems the first question is very on message....

Very local question from Bristol MP Charlotte Leslie. One thing that PMQs is about for MPs is option to talk about local issues especially with general election on way.

Ed Miliband is asking about cancer treatment - and PM didn't answer it. Labour sees NHS as an area that can beat the Tories.

@Choccyjules

I'm here

Choccyjules hello!

Bad opening strategy by Miliband. Too much detail, not broad and general enough. Allowed Cameron to drown him in figures and statistics and divert to Wales etc. Public now putting the kettle on.

He must have known that question was coming? The one about Bristol, didn't catch the beginning

You know I think it's the cheering that annoys me. it's not a bloody football match. Listen to the questions and answers, stop yelling like it's a five-a-side

PM and Ed M taking opportunities to say whatever they want on this issue. David Cameron has pulled out something he ALWAYS does - he talks about stats in Labour controlled Wales.

What do people think about Ed Miliband asking about this issue? It is something that people care about. But here goes PM turning it around into what he wants to say - getting huge cheer after each thing he mentions.

One of the main things I don't like about it is not fully understanding how it works. For example the PM always seems to start with "I had cocoa pops for breakfast and I'm having some meetings with various people later today" Why does he do that bit? (OK, maybe not always mentioning the cocoa-pops)

It seems interesting enough but I'd like to understand the processes and the background behind things, and also the outcomes, much more.
I often feel this about news and politics though - much prefer Newsnight to the regular news for example

Disastrous for Miliband. Cameron on a roll. Has swotted up the figures and is just reeling them off.

NHS employees could frankly do without being a political football, though I accept it's a key topic. Targets for waiting times are strangling certain aspects of the work so am not sure whose side am on here...and it would be nice to get a payrise somewhere near inflation (or at all) once in a while.

@claig

Bad opening strategy by Miliband. Too much detail, not broad and general enough. Allowed Cameron to drown him in figures and statistics and divert to Wales etc. Public now putting the kettle on.

claig Very interesting point. Maybe best way to get an answer is to be very specific. I think I may have made that mistake when interviewing the PM or Osborne for Sky!

The raucousness and shouting is just abysmal. It makes me embarrassed to watch, and I'm not surprised Angelo's US uni colleagues thought it looked like a brawl! No MP should have to shout to be heard in the HOC - it's a workplace of sorts. It's just completely arse-over-tip that our politicians show far less self-restraint and manners than the entire rest of the country have to do in their working lives. Ghastly.

They are actually just using the NHS to party-bash now. Nothing to do with useful questioning of the PM.

LOL at Crystal.

My live feed has cut out. Not that I was finding it very interesting. rattles computer

What I find frustrating about PMQs and here is a classic one - is that the PM and Labour leader just throw stats back and forth. They pick the ones that suit them and reel them off - leaving viewers utterly confused.