Spin struggle returns to PMQs

Gordon Brown and David Cameron exchanged accusations of "style" over "substance" in this week's prime minister's questions.

Last week's local election results and the 10p starting rate of income tax overshadowed the session but it was a standoff over spin which proved the sharpest clashpoint this lunchtime.

Mr Cameron focused his initial attacks against the prime minister's lack of leadership on prisons, post offices and Scottish devolution.

The prime minister sought to lay out the "choice" between the two parties, saying Labour had provided "jobs, stability growth and public services" while the Tories offered "absolutely nothing to… the people of this country".

"No amount of slick salesmanship can obscure the fact that there is no substance to anything the Conservatives are saying," he finished.

Mr Cameron responded by turning the 'salesman' tag against the prime minister, saying "he's got nothing to sell and he's useless at selling it".

"This is the prime minister who went on American Idol with more makeup on than Barbara Cartland," the Tory leader said, to cheers from opposition benches.

"He sits in No 10… waiting for Shakira to call, waiting for George Clooney to come to tea. I've got a bit of advice for him - why doesn't he give up the PR and start being the PM?

Mr Brown hit back, however, repeating his claim that "there is no substance in any of his questioning".

"The choice in this country is between a Labour government that delivers and a Conservative government that just talks," he added.

Today's PMQs was the first since last Thursday's local elections, in which the Conservatives were the clear winners.

Mr Cameron claimed the electorate had showed who their "choice" went to and raised laughter when he suggested Mr Brown would enjoy a "fruitful relationship" with new London mayor Boris Johnson.