PMQs
Government & Politics abbreviation · UK Government
| Stands for | Prime Minister's Questions |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
PMQs stands for Prime Minister's Questions, a UK government abbreviation.
Weekly session in the House of Commons, held at noon on Wednesdays when the House sits, in which MPs question the Prime Minister for about 30 minutes. The Leader of the Opposition is allowed six questions.
Example: The two leaders clashed over hospital waiting lists at PMQs.
Usage notes
Regular question time for the prime minister began in 1961, with two 15-minute slots a week until Tony Blair merged them into one 30-minute session in 1997. Exchanges are known for noise and theatrics and are widely clipped for television. Many questions start with the formulaic request that the PM list engagements for the day.
Related abbreviations
More UK government abbreviations
- Ofwat – Water Services Regulation Authority
- ONS – Office for National Statistics
- PAYE – Pay As You Earn
- PC – Plaid Cymru
- PIP – Personal Independence Payment
- PM – Prime Minister
- PPS – Parliamentary Private Secretary
- PRA – Prudential Regulation Authority
- SDLP – Social Democratic and Labour Party
- SF – Sinn Féin
- SFO – Serious Fraud Office
- SNP – Scottish National Party