PM's questions and tributes to Kennedy

Elections to the Conservatives' influential 1922 committee were held earlier. The ConservativeHome website has published a handy list of who has made it onto the powerful body and in what capacity. Members include the newly-elected MPs James Cleverly and Antoinette Sandbach. 

During an emotional 90-minute session in the Commons earlier, MPs paid tribute to the late Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy. Here's a flavour of what was said by political friends and foes alike. 

Labour's Tom Watson directed his remarks to Mr Kennedy's son, Donald, who was present in the public gallery with his mother Sarah.

"Your father was a very great man, he stood up for what he believed in... when you are older you will know your mum and dad believed in a cause greater than themselves and you will be proud."

Stephen Pound, another Labour MP: "This was a man who was loved and adored right the way across the political spectrum, across the national spectrum, across the world."

Tory Sir Edward Leigh: "I think his faith was very powerful, and I like to think that in some previous life he and I might have marched together in some hopeless Highland cause, perhaps as Jacobites, I don't know."

Sir Gerald Kaufman, Labour: "He had very, very strong views but he was never vindictive. He was never malevolent in expanding those views, he knew where he stood, he worked out where he should stand and you knew when Charles spoke he thought it out."

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"Labour MPs are plotting to lend their votes to Mary Creagh in a bid to shake-up their 'drone-a-thon' leadership contest," writes Mail Online's political editor, Matt Chorley. He says background talks are under way to get Ms Creagh on the ballot paper to "break up the 'uninspiring' contest between Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper". Liz Kendall is also in the running for the leadership.

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Former Tory Cabinet minister Lord Fowler has said the government should consider funding the NHS through an insurance scheme, a special health tax or more up-front charging

The peer called for a major review of the way health care is funded, and said benefits for the elderly should no longer be protected from cuts.

While he believed the NHS could survive in the short term with the present model of funding, he added:

Quote Message: What I'm not convinced about is whether in the decades ahead we can go on in the same way, financing health predominantly from general taxation."

What I'm not convinced about is whether in the decades ahead we can go on in the same way, financing health predominantly from general taxation."

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With MPs in line for a £7,000 pay rise, the prime minister is being pressed to say if he would take it or donate the money to charity.

Speaking to journalists this afternoon, David Cameron's official spokesman repeatedly said the prime minister disagreed with the proposed rise but refused to say if he would give the cash away:

Quote Message: The PM has through this process urged IPSA (the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority) to reconsider, rethink and made it clear he doesn't agree with the increase."

The PM has through this process urged IPSA (the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority) to reconsider, rethink and made it clear he doesn't agree with the increase."

Mr Cameron went into politics "to serve his constituents and serve his country", the spokesman added.

IPSA - the body which sets MPs' pay - has proposed a 10% rise, which would see salaries go from £67,060 to £74,000.

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Nicola Sturgeon's family has roots in the North East, highlighting the close-knit relationship the area has with its neighbours north of the border. But will the region benefit from the rise of Scotland's first minister and the SNP or will it be overshadowed? David Rhodes reports.

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Not got any plans this weekend? You do now. To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1975 referendum on the UK's membership of the European Economic Community, BBC Parliament will be broadcasting the two-hour results programme, presented by David Dimbleby, with analysis by election expert David Butler. Tune in from 19:00 on Saturday 6 June.

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Peter Kellner from YouGov was asked about what the post-election polls have to say,

He spoke to Jo Coburn and Andrew Neil, along with guests Chris Bryant and David Gauke, about what voters have had to say since May 7, about parties and priorities.

Pollsters have been reviewing their methods since the many predictions of a hung parliament were wide of the mark, ahead of a Conservative majority which surprised many voters, commentators and politicians.

Watch the clip 

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Now seems like a good time for a summary of today's political developments:

- David Cameron has led Commons tributes to former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy, who he described as the "most human of politicians"

- The first PMQs of the new Parliament has taken place, which saw David Cameron clash with acting Labour leader Harriet Harman and the SNP

- Up to 1,000  schools in England, including all those rated inadequate by Ofsted, will be turned into academies under plans published in the new Education and Adoption Bill

- Leadership contender Andy Burnham has said Labour should run its own "distinctive" campaign to stay in the EU in the upcoming referendum

- Nominations for the next Lib Dem leader have closed, with Nick Clegg's successor to be elected in July

Senior Labour MP Jon Cruddas - who wrote the party's 2015 election manifesto and is now leading a review into the defeat - has warned that Labour must not “take for granted” the 2016 London mayoral election or it could lose.

He told the Evening Standard he backed Tottenham MP David Lammy to be Labour’s candidate, saying he can "unite across Left and Right ... and not just a Labour base".

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Today, the Education Secretary has made good on her promise of rapid legislation to make school turnaround faster. They think their plans will keep the number of schools taken in hand at around 200 schools a year.

Nicky Morgan says that a new bill will tackle "campaigners [who] could delay or overrule failing schools being improved by education experts by obstructing the process by which academy sponsors take over running schools."

The need to make it easier to convert weak local authority schools to academy status is not obviously apparent. The press release cites a high-profile campaign to "save" Downhills School in Tottenham from being shifted to academy status.

Read the full post on Newsnight Live.

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The first Prime Minister's Questions of the new Parliament was reviewed by the BBC's deputy political editor James Landale, with Conservative David Gauke and Labour's Chris Bryant.

They went over the exchanges between David Cameron and Harriet Harman, while Daily Politics presenters Jo Coburn and Andrew Neil looked at the viewers' reaction to the questions and answers, and a new range of camera angles.

Watch the clip

MPs and peers have faced each other in a tug of war raising money for charity.

Daily Politics reporter Giles Dilnot plays commentator in the 29th annual contest in a different kind of battle between those who normally sit on the red and green benches. Watch his film

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Stephen Kinnock, son of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, is making his maiden speech in the Commons. He was elected as Aberavon MP last month.

The Labour MP says actors Michael Sheen and Anthony Hopkins are just two of "the local lads made good" from the area, but perhaps "the most famous of its sons" is Richard Burton.

Mr Kinnock, who is married to Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt, tells MPs it's "truly an honour" to represent the constituency and pledges to "strive always to get the best deal for my constituents".

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Construction union UCATT has endorsed Sadiq Khan for London Mayor, Labour-supporting website Labourlist reports. The Tooting MP has also secured the backing of GMB and Unite unions.

Mr Khan is one of a number of candidates in the running to be Labour’s candidate for London Mayor, elections for which take place next year. They include: Diane Abbott, Tessa Jowell, David Lammy, Gareth Thomas and Christian Wolmar. Dr Neeraj Patil and Keeran Kerai  have also put their names forward. 

Speaker John Bercow announces the results of the election for Commons deputy speakers (although we already knew them as only three names were put forward for the three positions).

They are incumbents Labour's Lindsay Hoyle and Conservative Eleanor Laing, and Labour MP Natascha Engel - who replaces Dawn Primarolo who stepped down at the election.

Mr Hoyle has been re-elected chairman of ways and means, a high-profile role which involves chairing the Budget statement.

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Sajid Javid is making his Commons debut as business secretary. He tells MPs the Conservatives "are the party of the many not the few...devolving to every corner of the United Kingdom".

Quote Message: A one nation party, a one nation government."

A one nation party, a one nation government."

But Nigel Nelson felt PMQs was "as deeply unsatisfying as ever".

In an opinion piece for the Mirror,  he wrote : "Ed Miliband had morphed into Harriet Harman who is now asking the questions for Labour. But some things never change. Harriet asked David Cameron questions he never answered and David Cameron answered questions Harriet had never asked."  

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What did political commentators make of today's Prime Minister's Questions, the first of the new Parliament.

The New Statesman's George Eaton thought David Cameron "effortlessly commanded" the session, and suggested it served as a reminder the session showed Labour "how great the task ahead of it is".

"The ease with which Cameron berated Harman over her party's past record may convince more in the party that only a post-2010 MP can make progress," he writes.

Spotted outside the Defra building: campaigners calling on the government to prosecute more people who mistreat horses. Needless to say, no animals were harmed in the making of this protest - it's a dummy.

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The Speaker calls an end to tributes to  former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy and moves onto the main business - another day's debate on the Queen's Speech. Today, MPs focus on the bills relating to devolution and growth across Britain.

Labour's Stephen Pound, MP for Ealing North, says "many hearts broke" when they heard the news of Charles Kennedy's death. 

He recalls Mr Kennedy "creasing the sides of the nation with his humour" on the airwaves and on panel show 'Have I Got News for You', and remembers being told that "to appear on the programme, you have to be prepared to be a prat, or Charles Kennedy".

"I appeared on 'Have I got News for you'", says Mr Pound to chuckles from MPs. "Demonstrably, I'm not Charles Kennedy."

Greg Mulholland follows the emotional tributes from fellow Lib Dems Norman Lamb and Tim Farron to their former leader.

The Leeds MP pays his respects to a man who "lit up the room when he walked in... a genuine, warm and humble man".

Mr Mulholland recalls the time when Charles Kennedy, as Liberal Democrat leader, took his party to its most successful General Election result, winning 62 seats in 2005.

And what about Gloria de Piero, the shadow women and equalities minister and MPs' pay? She says she "couldn't look at her constituents in the eye" if she accepted the money. She says there should be a mechanism for MPs to refuse the pay rise - so it can be "given back to the taxpayer".

Asked whether she'll be accepting the money, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says there is "no mechanism" for MPs not to accept it as Ipsa pays their salaries directly into their bank accounts.

But she adds: "I already make charitable donations and this is an opportunity to increase them."

MPs' pay is set to rise by £7,000 under proposals put forward by the watchdog in charge of setting their salaries. Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority chief executive Marcial Boo says "overall" MPs won't be benefiting any more than they were before because of changes to their pensions and allowances.

What if MPs don't want to accept the money? They are welcome to choose to give it to charity, he says, but stresses that Ipsa's job is to pay MPs their salaries directly.

Could you envisage Britain leaving the European Convention on Human Rights? Nicky Morgan is asked. She tells the World at One that she supports "getting sense back" into the way human rights legislation is applied in the UK. Leaving the ECHR  would be "a big step" but "I don't think we should be tying our hands at this stage", Ms Morgan says, adding: "We should be looking at all possible options."  

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Replacing Charles Kennedy in his seat of Ross, Skye & Lochaber is Ian Blackford, who rises next to speak.

The SNP MP pays tribute to the "cheeky chappy" who he beat with a majority of 5,124 in the previous election, but says it was only due to "the national tide that he lost his seat".

 "Charles charmed the constituents, just as he did in this House," says Mr Blackford, and was "deeply loved by many throughout his constituency."

"It was absolute privilege to campaign against him." 

Labour shadow frontbencher Gloria de Piero says the party is recovering from a "terrible" election defeat and has some "deep thinking" to do, but she pledges that it will hold the government to account.

On the proposed welfare cuts, she says Labour wants to see the benefit bill fall but it is concerned that "the people had nothing to do with causing the financial crisis end up paying the price". Ms de Piero says tackling low pay needs to be a priority.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says the PM has been clear there'll be no changes to child benefit during this Parliament. So where will the planned welfare cuts come from?

Mrs Morgan says disabled people and the most vulnerable will be protected. "That means there are difficult decisions to be made and that's  what we're working on as a government at the moment," she says, adding that further details will be made available in the emergency Budget on 8 July.

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Quote Message: Whether on Europe, or constitutional reform, or his arguments against nationalism and the politics of identity, or his lifelong belief in social justice, Charles had a gut instinct about the big challenges and the big choices we faced, not the daily twists and turns and sleights of hand that dominate so much of Westminster politics. He understood, above all, that politics is at its best when it speaks to people's values in their hearts, not just the dry policy debates of the head."

Whether on Europe, or constitutional reform, or his arguments against nationalism and the politics of identity, or his lifelong belief in social justice, Charles had a gut instinct about the big challenges and the big choices we faced, not the daily twists and turns and sleights of hand that dominate so much of Westminster politics. He understood, above all, that politics is at its best when it speaks to people's values in their hearts, not just the dry policy debates of the head."

Mr Clegg also recalled that Charles Kennedy was not a fan of the decision to go into coalition with the Conservatives:

Quote Message: A couple of years ago Charles and I found ourselves cowering under the shelter of a parasol on the terrace of the National Liberal Club in the pouring rain for what he called 'a wee bit of fresh air', a wonderfully inappropriate euphemism for a quick smoke. We talked at length about the difficulties the Liberal Democrats were facing within the coalition. It is a measure of the man that, though he was almost alone in our party in not supporting the decision to enter into coalition in May 2010, there was never a hint of reproach or 'I told you so' in the advice he gave to me in that and in other conversations.

A couple of years ago Charles and I found ourselves cowering under the shelter of a parasol on the terrace of the National Liberal Club in the pouring rain for what he called 'a wee bit of fresh air', a wonderfully inappropriate euphemism for a quick smoke. We talked at length about the difficulties the Liberal Democrats were facing within the coalition. It is a measure of the man that, though he was almost alone in our party in not supporting the decision to enter into coalition in May 2010, there was never a hint of reproach or 'I told you so' in the advice he gave to me in that and in other conversations.

Mr Clegg, watched by a packed Commons, continued:

Quote Message: He remained unstintingly loyal, no matter what the circumstances and no matter how strong the temptation must have been to blow his own trumpet and say that events had proved him right. He was far too subtle for that. He had made his views clear at the outset but respected in good faith what his party colleagues were seeking to achieve in Government and provided support and advice every step of the way. Which is why it was no surprise when he said, after being challenged about his loyalties after the 2010 election: 'I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.' I am just devastated that it has happened so soon."

He remained unstintingly loyal, no matter what the circumstances and no matter how strong the temptation must have been to blow his own trumpet and say that events had proved him right. He was far too subtle for that. He had made his views clear at the outset but respected in good faith what his party colleagues were seeking to achieve in Government and provided support and advice every step of the way. Which is why it was no surprise when he said, after being challenged about his loyalties after the 2010 election: 'I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.' I am just devastated that it has happened so soon."

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The SNP's Westminster Leader in the Commons Angus Robertson shares his memories of Charles Kennedy, a "giant in UK politics, and Scottish politics".

The SNP's Ian Blackwood won Mr Kennedy's seat of Ross, Skye & Lochaber in the previous election, and although Mr Robertson admits to being delighted with the SNP's victory, he says that he was "genuinely sad that he (Charles Kennedy) was no longer in parliament."

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Conservative veteran and long-time parliamentarian Kenneth Clarke is the next MP to praise Charles Kennedy's life and offer his condolences to Mr Kennedy's family. Mr Clarke was one of the Conservatives who voted against the Iraq War and would have been expecting to campaigning alongside Kennedy in the EU referendum.

Looking back over Charles Kennedy's career as an MP, Nick Clegg refers Mr Kennedy's leadership of the Liberal Democrats when he voiced strong opposition to the 2003 Iraq war, and voting against his party's decision to enter an alliance with the Conservatives in 2010. Clegg says Kennedy never once took the chance to say "I told you so" as the party's ratings slumped in the coalition.

Some nationalists are sitting in the Labour benches in the Commons. The SNP's Pete Wishart and Chris Law sat behind Harriet Harman, the acting leader during Prime Minister's questions and the tributes to Charles Kennedy. It follows a row over seating arrangements which is still not yet resolved.

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Ex-Liberal Democrat Leader Leader Nick Clegg paya tribute to his former colleague Charles Kennedy.

He was a "polar opposite of a cardboard cut out politician", says Nick Clegg, and to quote Mr Kennedy's own words, a "fully signed up member of the human race". "Charles had a gut instinct about the big challenges and choices we must face," he says, "and Mr Speaker he was funny, very funny".

More from BBC deputy political editor James Landale on the Human Rights Act. He says we are "a long away" from any showdown over the issue as he does not expect "early legislation" from the Conservatives on a British Bill of Rights. But he says there are enough Tory MPs opposed to leaving the European Convention for the government to be wary about the way they go about it. 

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Acting Labour Leader Harriet Harman is at the despatch box and says she remembers Charles Kennedy as the "golden boy from the highlands" and says it is "a tragedy that he died so young".

On the Daily Politics, Andrew Neil picks up on Andrew Mitchell's question on the future of the Human Rights Act and whether the UK could leave the European Convention on Human Rights. James Landale says the PM's response was very interesting, in that he reassured Mr Mitchell that leaving was not part of its current plans but that this could not be ruled out in the future if changes weren't made. This answer, James Landale adds, will upset human rights lawyers and campaigners and worry some Tory MPs but please others. 

Reading out a selection of viewers' e-mails and texts, Jo Coburn says one Daily Politics viewer believed the exchanges showed the two leaders were a "bit rusty" after nearly two months away and needed a bit of practice to get back into the swing of things. They'll get plenty of practice over the coming weeks.

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The Prime Minister starts the tributes to the late Charles Kennedy, calling him a man of "great principle and intellectual." 

"He made friends, even with those who disagreed with him," he says. "And it is this warmth and good humour that he will be remembered most fondly."

David Cameron ends, "he was the most human of politicians" and the "best that politics can be".

The Speaker moves the House on to the next business of the day: paying tribute to Charles Kennedy, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats who died on Monday.

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A stroll in the park for the PM today. He could bask in the gratitude of his backbenchers for winning the election. And he was ready with some prepared put-downs taunting Labour for being "enemies of aspiration".

Difficult day at the office for Harriet Harman. She didn't manage to land any real blows on the PM over plans to cut benefits. She tried her best to fire up a disconsolate Labour Party but that's robably mission impossible at the moment.

The SNP took advantage of their two questions to strike a sober and serious note on the plight of refugees in the Mediterranean and Syria. Their leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, will be glad to have got off to a solid start.

Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski says the situation in Libya is getting worse by the day and urges the UK to work with countries such as Italy and Egypt to bring greater stability to the troubled country. The PM acknowledges Libya has problems and the focus should be on uniting different factions to ensure there is a functioning government. 

Labour's Stephen Timms urges the PM to rule out any cuts to disability benefits. Mr Cameron does not give a concrete pledge but says that the last government increased financial support for disabled people. 

David Cameron rules out any further subsidies for onshore wind farms in response to a question from Byron Davies. The PM is then quizzed by backbencher Peter Bone on his European negotiations. Mr Cameron says he wants Europe to be flexible enough so all members, inside and outside the eurozone, feel "comfortable" in the EU. 

Labour's Diane Abbott asks about devolution to the nations and regions of the UK. She says London will expect at least the same powers that are given to the "Northern Powerhouse". The PM says it is a "powerful point" and notes that discussions are taking place with Boris Johnson - adding that the mayor is doing a "very good job" of running London. That gets a cheer from the Conservative benches. 

A range of different issues are now being raised by Conservative and Labour backbenchers, including proposed changes to adoption rules, tidal energy projects in the south-west of England and the "crisis" in the steel industry. 

A second new MP - this time the Conservative Flick Drummond - is called and asks about the economy and the improvements in her Portsmouth constituency. The PM pays tribute to the new MP and says the government is committed to pursuing economic policies to promote growth and jobs. 

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The first question from a new MP, Labour's Cat Smith. She asks when the UK will regain its triple A credit rating. Mr Cameron seeks to make a joke of this, suggesting it shows a new-found recognition in the opposition of the need for fiscal discipline and sustainably. He says that Ms Smith is "making more sense" than all contenders to lead her party and she should stand herself, encouraging her to "go for it". 

Conservative MP John Baron asks about the Middle East and the risk of refugee camps becoming a "breeding ground for terrorism". The PM says the situation is far worse in Syria than in Iraq and insists the UK must focus on its policy of supporting moderate opposition in that country and backing the Iraq government in its fight against Islamic State. 

A question now from Labour's Adrian Bailey about support for Dixons workers in his Midlands constituency who have lost their jobs, saying this shows the "fragility" of the economic recovery. The PM says the economy is recovering and the government will continue to support Job Centre Plus centres. 

David Cameron uses a question from a Tory backbencher to say the NHS will remain free at the point of use under his government and the health service will get £8bn in extra annual funding. He challenges Labour to match his pledge. 

David Cameron gets a friendly question from Tory MP Julian Sturdy on the economy. Labour MP Hugh Irrranca-Davies asks about the blood contamination scandal. The PM says £25m has been made available to help victims and there will be a government statement before the summer recess. 

SNP MP Angus Robertson has two questions. He focuses on the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, asking about the UK's obligations to asylum seekers and other refugees from persecution, suggesting the government is doing less than other EU countries. Mr Cameron disagrees, saying the UK has a "moral responsibility" to asylum seekers but says the best policy is to tackle problems in African countries at source and cracking down on people trafficking. 

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The fight over seats between the SNP vs. Dennis Skinner seems to have been settled once and for all as the Labour veteran is spotted in his usual place on the Commons bench.

Former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell asks whether the UK could possibly withdraw from the European Convention of Human Rights, warning this would be damaging for its reputation. David Cameron is not "part of his plans" but says he supports "British judges making decisions in British courts" and that he rules nothing out if he does not get the reform he wants in Europe. 

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 David Cameron challenges Harriet Harman to say whether Labour will back a cut in the overall welfare cap. But John Bercow intervenes to say that Ms Harman has had her final question and will not be able to respond.   

Harriet Harman says David Cameron can no longer blame the government's failings on the last prime minister "as it was him". She says the election was all about promises but now it is about delivery. 

Harriet Harman moves onto welfare, challenging the PM to say whether he is committed to not cutting child benefit and tax credits for the full five years of the Parliament. The PM responds that Labour have "learnt absolutely nothing", pointing out that Ed Miliband lost the election and Ed Balls lost his seat, adding "the messengers have gone but the message stays the same". 

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The PM says Labour cannot back extending "right to buy" because it is the "enemy of enterprise". Mr Cameron says the last government built more council homes last year than in the entire 13 years of the Labour government. But Ms Harman says Mr Cameron "broke his promise" to replace all council homes sold with new stock on a one-for-one basis. 

David Cameron lists all the initiatives that the government has taken to boost home ownership and challenges Labour to back the extension of the "right to buy scheme" to housing association. Harriet Harman says home ownership has fallen since 2010 and insists Labour supports home ownership. 

Harriet Harman is on her feet. Her first question is on housing, asking whether the percentage of people owning their own home has gone up since 2010.

The first question is from Tory Alec Shelbrooke. He talks about "blue-collar conservatism" and the need for lower taxes, and rises in the minimum wage. Unsurprisingly, David Cameron agrees, noting that Mr Shelbrooke doubled his majority. The PM says the government is focused on "making work pay".

Harriet Harman can be "very incisive" so David Cameron will be "kept on his toes", James Landale adds. Many of the newly-elected MPs will be experiencing the session for the first time, he notes and most will be watching rather than contributing. 

Those tuning in to listen to the international development teams at the despatch box would have missed Shadow International Development Minister Mary Creagh's contribution. It seems the microphones are on the blink.

David Cameron is on his feet in the Commons with PMQs getting under way. 

The BBC's James Landale says the session is likely to be less boisterous than normal because of Charles Kennedy's death, leading to an "unusual atmosphere". He says Mr Kennedy was universally popular, "transcending party in the way few did". 

The Speaker appeals to MPs thronging the benches and gangways for the parliament's first Prime Minister's Questions, that he understands the "sense of anticipation but must be able to hear the minister speak".

Each week on Wednesday afternoon the prime minister must come to the House of Commons to answer oral questions for half an hour.

MPs do not normally give the prime minister prior notice of the subject which they are going to raise. 

This element of surprise allows opposition MPs, in particular, to try to catch the prime minister out with an awkward question, although they are not allowed to ask follow-up questions which limits their scrutinising powers.

The only people who get more than one question are the leader of the opposition (Harriet Harman today) who gets to ask six questions, and the leader of the next biggest opposition party - the SNP - who get two questions.

Government backbenchers can normally be relied upon to ask a "helpful" question which will allow the prime minister to tell the House about successful government policies. 

The relative performance of each of the main party leaders is closely watched and each is under great pressure to get the better of their opponent. 

The names of the MPs who will get the chance to ask the prime minister a question are drawn in a weekly lottery.

MP's pay is likely to crop up in some form at Prime Minister's Questions. Perhaps anticipating that, a No 10 spokeswoman has insisted that David Cameron opposes the proposed £7,000 increase but says it is now a matter for the independent watchdog and will not rule out the prime minister accepting the increase.

Quote Message: The prime minister's approach is clear. He has opposed this increase. It is for Ipsa as an independent body to determine what MPs are paid. The prime minister is an MP. There is MPs' pay set by Ipsa. The salary that the PM controls is ministerial pay. When he entered office he cut ministerial pay and then he froze it. He made clear a couple of weeks ago that he will freeze it for five more years. That is freezing ministerial pay for a decade."

The prime minister's approach is clear. He has opposed this increase. It is for Ipsa as an independent body to determine what MPs are paid. The prime minister is an MP. There is MPs' pay set by Ipsa. The salary that the PM controls is ministerial pay. When he entered office he cut ministerial pay and then he froze it. He made clear a couple of weeks ago that he will freeze it for five more years. That is freezing ministerial pay for a decade."

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The Speaker is spoilt for choice as Labour's brother and sister duo Valerie and Keith Vaz both try to catch the Speaker's eye to ask the International Development Secretary a question. "The sibling rivalry lives on," he quips, before choosing Mr Vaz to go first.

The Daily Politics has been looking at why the opinion polls before the election failed to predict the actual result. YouGov's Peter Kellner says he is "not ruling out" any explanations pending the findings of an inquiry by the polling industry into why they got things wrong. But he says there are some signs pointing to the phenomenon known as "shy Tories" with people "reluctant to say there are going to vote Conservative" before actually doing so. 

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The Commons chamber is filling up ahead of the first Prime Minister's Questions of the new Parliament.

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Tory minister David Gauke says there is "particular issue" with turning failing schools under local authority control into academies which needs to be addressed, citing examples of schools in London and Derby which faced "long battles" to change status, and once they did, have been transformed. But Labour's Chris Bryant suggests the change is ideologically-driven and since Ofsted cannot currently inspect academy chains, parents have "no recourse" to action if things go wrong. 

Read the full story

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Before the business of the day starts, the Speaker reminded MPs that the ballot for private members' bills for the upcoming 2015-16 session will take place on Thursday morning.

Private members' bills give MPs the chance to introduce a bill on a subject of their choosing.

Twenty names are drawn in reverse order, with the last member drawn having the pick of one of the 13 Friday sittings, which are scheduled for debating private members' bills. 

MPs usually choose the first Friday to come up, making it the most likely to succeed. First readings are due to take place on Wednesday 24 June.

A couple of success stories that made it through parliament in the last session:

-  Control of Horses Act 2015 

-  International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 

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The Daily Politics is under way on BBC Two. Ninety minutes of political chat and - of course - the first prime minister's questions of the new Parliament. Labour's Chris Bryant and the Conservatives' David Gauke are Andrew Neil and Jo Coburn's guests for the duration of the show. 

The day has kicked off in the House of Commons with international development questions.

MPs are raising issues from the Mediterranean migration crisis to the Syrian conflict with International Secretary Justine Greening and her ministerial team.

First up is the Labour MP Richard Burden asking a question on the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

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Scottish Labour needs to stop defining itself by its opposition to the SNP and the Conservatives, Ken Macintosh has said as he formally launched his leadership campaign. The Eastwood MSP, who also stood to be party leader in 2011, will compete with Kezia Dugdale for the job to succeed Jim Murphy. 

Quote Message: I do not want to ask people to vote Labour to block the Tories in London or to stop the SNP in Edinburgh; I want them to want to vote Labour because we have the ideas, the vision and the values to deliver a better future for Scotland." from Ken Macintosh Labour MSP

I do not want to ask people to vote Labour to block the Tories in London or to stop the SNP in Edinburgh; I want them to want to vote Labour because we have the ideas, the vision and the values to deliver a better future for Scotland."

Councils in the UK spend almost £1bn a year trying to tackle the problem of litter.

And John Read, from Clean Up Britain, said of the cost: “Nobody told you that during the general election.”

In a personal film airing on Wednesday's Daily Politics, after PMQs, he is calling for a campaign to look at the cost of the clean-up, and show throwing litter to be anti-social, mirroring a move against drink drinking.

And he called for litter fines to be seen as a "serious and credible possibility". Watch his film

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It is one of the great events in the sporting calendar - well in a small corner of SW1 anyway. After a titanic struggle on Tuesday, MPs prevailed against their honourable friends in the House of Lords in the annual MacMillan Cancer Support tug-of-war between the two Houses. Here are some images from the event.

Eamonn McCormackCopyright: Eamonn McCormack

Eamonn McCormackCopyright: Eamonn McCormack

Eamonn McCormackCopyright: Eamonn McCormack

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Lib Dem leadership candidate Tim Farron (left) says he has been nominated by more than 400 party members, representing 100 local branches, to lead the party. Ahead of the deadline for nominations later today, Mr Farron says he is "deeply honoured" to have received such breadth of support and will focus his campaign on "rebuilding the party from the grassroots" and talking about issues such as human rights, the environment and building a "new economy". Norman Lamb (right), who is expected to be Mr Farron's sole opponent, is also expected to easily qualify to take part in the election contest, which will be decided in July. 

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There's been a little bit of confusion among journalists this morning about how many questions Harriet Harman will get to ask David Cameron when they clash at midday. Labour has cleared this up by confirming that it stays at six - the same that Ed Miliband had at his disposal in the last Parliament. What will change is that we will be seeing a lot more of Angus Robertson, the SNP leader in the Commons. He will have two questions every week, the same number that outgoing Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had between 2008 and 2010. Incidentally, the next Lib Dem leader, when he is chosen in July, will get a chance to ask a question every three weeks, in rotation with the DUP and Plaid Cymru. In the last Parliament, of course, Nick Clegg was answering the questions as deputy prime minister and his party's reduced total reflects the drop in its numerical strength in the Commons from nearly 60 MPs to just eight. 

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More on Andy Coulson's acquittal of perjury charges. Lord Burns, the trial judge in the High Court in Edinburgh, gave his ruling on Monday but it could not be reported until today as the Crown was given time to decide whether to appeal against the ruling. It decided not to appeal and Mr Coulson is expected to leave court shortly. He is still serving the non-custodial part of a 18-month sentence imposed in June 2014 after his conviction for conspiring to intercept mobile phone messages while News of the World Editor.

Read the full story

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Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, who later became David Cameron's director of communications, has been cleared at the High Court in Edinburgh of committing perjury at the 2010 trial of former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan after the judge ruled he had no case to answer.

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By the look of things, Westminster's 650 MPs are going to have to decide what to do with the £7,000 pay rise that seems to be coming their way. Labour MP Stella Creasy has an interesting solution. She says it is "unjustifiable" and she will let residents in her Walthamstow constituency decide how it is spent locally. 

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The government's Education and Adoption Bill is being published on Wednesday, with much of the focus on incentives and sanctions for coasting and failing schools. But children's minister Edward Timpson has told the ConservativeHome website that it is also a "landmark" piece of legislation for adoption, containing important reforms to simplify the process and ensure no child is "left behind". Mr Timpson, two of whose brothers are adopted, said he had personal experience of how rewarding adoption can be – "not just for the child, but for the whole family":

Quote Message: As a result of the Education and Adoption Bill – introduced to Parliament today – we’ll be able to establish, where councils are unable or unwilling to do so, new Regional Adoption Agencies to seriously speed up the time it takes to match children with the right family for them. This means children spending less time with their lives on hold in the care system, and more time settling into their new homes."

As a result of the Education and Adoption Bill – introduced to Parliament today – we’ll be able to establish, where councils are unable or unwilling to do so, new Regional Adoption Agencies to seriously speed up the time it takes to match children with the right family for them. This means children spending less time with their lives on hold in the care system, and more time settling into their new homes."

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Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham has said he will not accept the £7,000 rise in basic pay for MPs recommended by the independent watchdog Ipsa. Mr Burnham said the proposed pay increase - which would see their pay go up by 10% to £74,000 next month - "could not be justified" in the current financial climate. He said he would turn it down "at source" or donate the money to local groups. Downing Street said on Tuesday that MPs would be entitled to the money if the move goes ahead following a final consultation. 

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Commons Speaker John Bercow will chair his first Prime Minister's Questions of the new parliamentary session today. It is also a big day for his deputies, who are being chosen in a ballot of MPs. Voting takes place between 10.00 and 13.00. We already know who will fill the three positions as only three candidates - Lindsay Hoyle, Eleanor Laing and Natascha Engel - have put their names forward. However, whoever gets the most votes will serve as the chair of the ways and means committee - meaning they will get the plum job of chairing the debate on the Budget every year. In the last Parliament, Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle had that task and he is favourite to continue in the role. 

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Conservative MP Damian Collins says the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups should be re-run, saying recent revelations about Fifa suggest "we cannot have any confidence" in how the tournaments were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively. The MP, a member of the Commons sports select committee, tells the BBC's Victoria Darbyshire show that there is "enough evidence to suggest the process was corrupted". 

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

US Senator Rand Paul has been making waves with his stand against mass surveillance and The Patriot Act. Mark Mardell wonders if his brand of libertarianism could have an influence on British politics.

 "It is not a strand of thought immediately obvious on the British political landscape, but I have a feeling it may be one of the forces and fault lines in Prime Minister David Cameron's new government," writes Mark.  

Storing and maintaining Britain's 19 laid-up nuclear submarines has cost taxpayers nearly £16m over the last five years, it has emerged.

The out-of-service vessels have been stored at Rosyth in Fife since 1980 and Devonport in Plymouth since 1994.

Campaigners have raised concerns about the hulks' safety, blaming a "lack of decision" for the delay in dismantling.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it took its duty to manage disposal of submarines "very seriously".

A Freedom of Information request to the MoD by the BBC revealed the combined cost of preventing any nuclear materials on board getting into the environment from the seven submarines at Rosyth and 12 in Devonport.

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Every school in England rated inadequate by Ofsted, up to 1,000 over five years, will become an academy, under a bill to be published later.

The Education and Adoption Bill will also scrap the requirement for academy sponsors to consult locally on whether they should take over schools.

The aim is to "sweep away bureaucratic and legal loopholes", said Education Secretary Nicky Morgan.

Labour said the "divisive" bill missed the challenges faced by schools.

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Away from domestic politics, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is due to travel to Brussels where he will be presented with a new plan to solve Greece's debt crisis.

International creditors will detail economic reforms needed if Greece is to receive further funding.

Mr Tsipras has already said he has new proposals of his own that would involve painful concessions.

A €300m (£216m) payment from cash-strapped Greece to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is due on Friday.

The draft deal has been put together by the IMF, the European Commission and the European Central Bank following emergency talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

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Quote Message: Twenty years ago, it was still possible to find pubs where signs above the bar said 'No politics or religion', presumably because they were the two subjects most likely to cause a fight. Nowadays, you never see it, because either people don't discuss politics at all, or, if they do, it's conducted with such apathy that the chief danger is that the participants will fall asleep."

Twenty years ago, it was still possible to find pubs where signs above the bar said 'No politics or religion', presumably because they were the two subjects most likely to cause a fight. Nowadays, you never see it, because either people don't discuss politics at all, or, if they do, it's conducted with such apathy that the chief danger is that the participants will fall asleep."

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Labour should run its own "distinctive" campaign to stay in the European Union in the upcoming referendum on the UK's membership, Andy Burnham has said.

The leadership hopeful said the party must "learn the lessons" of last year's Scottish independence referendum.

It has been suggested Labour lost Scottish votes because it campaigned with the Conservatives for a "No" vote.

Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold an in/out referendum on the EU before the end of 2017.

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MPs will get a chance to pay tribute to Charles Kennedy in the House of Commons at 12:30 BST, immediately after PM's questions. As was shown yesterday Kennedy, Lib Dem leader from 1999 to 2006 and an MP from 1983 to 2015, was a hugely popular figure. To find out more about his life and career, here's The Charles Kennedy Story.

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There is still a sense of shock and sadness across Westminster after the news yesterday that former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy had died aged 55. Catch-up with all the tributes from Tuesday.

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Hello and welcome to our rolling political coverage of events on the day of the first Prime Minister's Questions since the General Election. David Cameron is still there as Prime Minister, though William Hague, pictured above, won't be as he decided to stand down as an MP. There's also a change of line up on the opposition benches, with Harriet Harman acting Labour leader. And SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson will get to ask questions too.