Recap: Prime Minister's Questions and Syria statement

Hello and welcome to our coverage of Prime Minister's Questions on a pleasantly mild day at Westminster. Spring is in the air, but the chill winds of economic uncertainty still blow. Bank lending is down, but shares are up. The picture is confusing. Will the UK's political leaders discuss the situation in detail today or are other topics on the agenda?

Labour leader Ed Miliband may choose to taunt David Cameron about the Conservatives' third place in the Eastleigh by-election, won by the Lib Dems. But fourth-placed Labour's share of the vote hardly changed, while UKIP's soared into second place.

Perhaps Mr Miliband will raise the EU proposals to cap bankers' bonuses at 100% of their salary, or up to 200% if shareholders approve. "We have a welfare cap but not a bankers' bonus cap," Labour's Mary Creagh tells BBC Two's Daily Politics.

Meanwhile, the situation in Syria continues to worsen and is "spiralling towards full-scale disaster", according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres. As the number of people fleeing the conflict reaches one million, will any MP raise the crisis ahead of a full Commons statement on the subject?

London Mayor Boris Johnson says the bankers' bonus cap will "damage the interests of the whole of Europe". Conservative minister Ed Vaizey adds: "If you cap bankers' bonuses, the remuneration will simply transfer to their salaries." But the UK is isolated in the EU after finance ministers for other member states vowed to press ahead regardless.

Labour argues that the EU bonus cap is "a sensible way forward". Mary Creagh says: "The bankers haven't understood the huge damage that they've caused to the economy." Fears of a banking brain drain are overblown, she believes.

How will Ed Miliband approach his questions to the PM? "The next big political event is the Budget," notes the BBC's Nick Robinson. "He'll look for another theme about whose side are you really on."

We are under way. The first is question is from a Labour MP on the "bedroom tax". It is not a tax, protests the PM.

The government is increasing funds for research on dementia, and looking at new ways to improve the lives of sufferers, Mr Cameron says.

Ed Miliband raises the plight of a banker called "John", who is worried his bonus will be capped at £2m.

The PM describes the opposition leader as "the croupier in the casino when the banks went bust".

"Why are the PM and the chancellor the only people who think it is the top priority to fight for bankers' bonuses?" Ed Miliband asks.

David Cameron says: "He might want to pose and play politics but we care about these things." Treasury receipts will fall if large banks emigrate, he adds.

Ed Miliband has a quote from the PM in 2008. "The problem... is that there is too much regulation," he apparently once said.

The PM is holding Mr Miliband responsible for the financial crisis. The coalition is dealing with the mess bequeathed to it by the previous Labour government, he says.

Mr Cameron calls on the opposition leader to apologise. If he wants to ask me questions, Mr Miliband retorts, he will have to wait for a change of government. But when he becomes PM, Mr Miliband predicts, he will likely face questions from current Home Secretary Theresa May.

Back to the "bedroom tax". Labour is "terrifying pensioners" on the impact of the removal of the "spare-room subsidy", Mr Cameron complains.

"The point he has to address is this: we are spending £23bn on housing benefit... that is £1,000 every year for every basic rate taxpayer," the PM says.

The change to housing benefit will hit disabled people, Ed Miliband protests. Of the PM, the Labour leader concludes: "He stands up for the wrong people. It's no wonder his backbenchers and the people think he is totally out of touch."

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard calls on the government to "advance the gender agenda" in developing countries. "We should do more to crack down on the completely unacceptable practice of forced marriages," the PM replies.

Tory MP Chris Skidmore declares: "We cannot borrow less by borrowing more." Labour is "financially and morally bankrupt", he adds. The PM agrees.

Labour's Graham Stringer calls on the PM to "sack" NHS boss David Nicholson "immediately" over the high death rates at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust. But Mr Cameron rejects the proposal.

The Lib Dem winner of the Eastleigh by-election, Mike Thornton, is only guaranteed a seat "for the rest of this Parliament", Mr Cameron notes - hinting at another tough Conservative campaign in the constituency at the 2015 general election.

The PM takes another pop at the MPs facing him. The "Labour Party in opposition is a wholly owned subsidiary of the trade union movement", he says.

Will David Cameron personally benefit from the "millionaires' tax cut", Labour's Chi Onwurah asks. The PM ignores the question.

Labour backbencher Ronnie Campbell demands to know why workers' wages are stagnating while "bankers, spivs and speculators can get away with stuffing their pockets with £50 notes". But when Labour was in charge, "bonuses were higher, banks went bust and there wasn't proper regulation", the PM retorts.

The onslaught from the Labour backbenches continues. "Why is the government cutting taxes for millionaires while young people have no future?" another MP asks.

A question on immigration gives Mr Cameron a chance to renew his attack the opposition, whose stance on borders was "busted and bankrupt".

How are the talks on a possible Conservative-UKIP pact going, asks Lib Dem Sir Bob Russell. Mr Cameron compliments his strikingly bright yellow waistcoat, but declines to announce any new electoral arrangement.

There is "a lot of local concern, a lot of local unease" over HS2, says the PM. But ministers have "got to make sure we invest in new infrastructure" to succeed in the competitive global economy, he adds.

Will the PM welcome the news that new car sales are up 8%, Conservative MP John Howell asks. MPs are unsurprised to hear that he will.

The final question of the session is on Kenya. "We all want to see proper free and fair elections," Mr Cameron says, declaring his support for "a proper democratically elected government".

Foreign Secretary William Hague is now addressing MPs on the crisis in Syria.

William Hague calls the UN's revelation that one million people have fled Syria "a sad milestone".

The UK is continuing efforts to reach "common ground" with Russia over Syria, the foreign secretary says.

The international community must step up support for the Syrian opposition and push the Assad regime towards reaching a political solution to the conflict, Mr Hague says.

Syria is now the "top destination" for the world's jihadists, Mr Hague says.

"Diplomacy is taking far too long, and the prospect of a breakthrough is slim," Mr Hague tells MPs.

There is no false choice "between diplomacy on the one hand and practical assistance on the other", the foreign secretary argues. "We will always be careful on how we develop our policy, but our readiness to develop it further should be unmistakable, particularly to the Assad regime."

Mr Hague lists a series of practical steps that the UK government could now provide to the Syrian opposition: search and rescue equipment, medical supplies, electricity generators and water purification kits.

There will be more supplies of "non-lethal equipment" for Syrian rebels from the UK, Mr Hague says. The government is working on what would be most effective, but this will probably include four-wheel-drive vehicles, "personal protection equipment, including body armour", and technology to assist with evidence gathering in the "horrific" event of a chemical weapons attack.

Labour's Douglas Alexander is responding to the statement. "The deteriorating situation in Syria represents abject failure on behalf of the international community," the shadow foreign secretary says.

Responsibility for the bloodletting primarily rests with the Assad regime, Douglas Alexander says. Syrian army officers must understand that they will be held accountable for their actions under international law, he argues.

Labour's Douglas Alexander blames an unnamed Foreign Office minister for creating "confusion over the government's position" on lifting the arms embargo on Syria. He calls for clarity from Mr Hague. "Does he accept the reality that today Syria is replete with arms?" he asks of the foreign secretary.

Douglas Alexander winds up his remarks. "A strategy based on frustration is less likely to succeed than one based on clear thinking and insight," he says. The government would have the support of Labour, Mr Alexander says, but he warns Mr Hague that "steps to intensify this conflict" might prove to be counter-productive.

William Hague says: "We have to do all that we can in a very clearly thought-out way to try to change the situation and try to save human lives."

The response of the UN security council to Syria has been an "abject failure", which the UK has tried hard to rectify, William Hague says. "We must be prepared to show increased support for the opposition," he adds.

William Hague says the UK's policy in Syria is clear: "We must be prepared to do more in a situation of such slaughter and such suffering. A more static policy would not measure up to gravity of this situation."

Former Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind asks Mr Hague whether the UK could go further in arming the Syrian Rebels, but Mr Hague says the conflict is already militarised, adding that the UK response should be "graduated" and must command "general support".

Another former Foreign Secretary, Labour's Jack Straw, says while he agrees that the UK shouldn't rule out providing arms to the Syrian opposition, it needs to be careful about getting into a "proxy war".

Sir Menzies Campbell for the the Lib Dems raises the 10th anniversary of the "mistaken military action" in Iraq and says many still fear a "drift" towards military intervention in Syria.

Labour's Peter Hain accuses William Hague of "making the situation worse" and not pursuing diplomatic efforts enough, but Mr Hague says "every possibility has been given to the regime to negotiate". "We can't stick out heads in the sand" over the "slaughter", he adds.

Asked about no-fly zone, Mr Hague says it would be classified as a military intervention and would require "military force externally on a substantial scale". He says interest in implementing a no-fly zone is "limited" among UN countries.

Mr Hague says that "everything Russia most fears is more likely to come true the longer the conflict carries on", including a growth of terrorism in the region. He says there has been "no meeting of minds" with the Russians about how to deal with the situation.

Conservative Julian Lewis asks about al-Qaeda's involvement with the the Syrian opposition and the risk of chemical weapons falling into its hands should the regime fall.

Mr Hague says Syria's chemical and biological weapons are "best safeguarded in a peaceful transition" and this is more likely to happen by helping the moderate opposition.

Sir Gerald Howarth, a former Conservative defence minister, says he fears the UK's "hand is being drawn ever closer into this mangle". He asks how confident Mr Hague is that it is the moderate forces who will be in charge when the regime falls.

Mr Hague says it is more like moderate forces will be in charge if they receive the kind of support the UK is offering.

Labour's Jeremy Corbyn asks about the role of Saudi Arabia and Qatar in finding a solution in Syria. Mr Hague says if regional powers agreed on a solution "it would be an enormous step forward", as would agreement among the members of the UN Security Council.

Conservative MP Bob Stewart asks about the possibility of putting "all our efforts into ceasefire" so that when the guns stop firing "politics can be used to solve situation". Mr Hague says a ceasefire should be "at the top of the agenda for negotiations, but we don't have successful negotiations at the moment".

Conservative Bernard Jenkin asks whether Mr Hague is talking to Defence Secretary Philip Hammond about contingencies, since a military intervention has not been ruled out. Mr Hague says he discusses a whole range of affairs with Mr Hammond all the time: "The defence secretary is of the same mind and we work closely on all contingencies."

Mr Hague assures MPs he will tell his Russian counterpart that Syria is a "human catastrophe of immense proportions" and push Russia to change its position.

Conservative Edward Leigh says he "rejects the neo-con policies" of his colleague Sir Malcolm Rifkind. "What is wrong with basing our policy on life and not death?" he asks.

Mr Hague says the UK's focus on protecting civilian life is "a necessary and proportionate response".

Labour's Geoffrey Robinson calls for an big increase in humanitarian assistance for those suffering in Syria. Mr Hague says Britain is already one of the biggest donors in the world, providing £140m in assistance.

Labour's Hugh Bayley asks how the government is working to smooth over splits in the Syrian opposition. Mr Hague says there is "much greater coherence than for a long time" in the moderate opposition.

BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says William Hague's statement marks a "significant shift" in British policy. You can read his analysis in this BBC news report on the statement.

Asked about the persecution of Syrian Christians and the danger of helping rebels who are also Islamic fundamentalists, Mr Hague insists UK support is only going to moderate forces, adding as well that the support being offered is "non-lethal".

Conservative James Morris asks about Iran arming President Assad's government and whether pressure can be put on them over their nuclear programme. Mr Hague says "many in Syria will not want to forgive Iran for intervening in Syria" and this will put pressure on Iran.

William Hague insists "London and Washington are very closely aligned" on Syria and have a "joint policy". He says he discussed the policy with new Secretary of State John Kerry and they are "of a very similar view".

Conservative MP Philip Lee says President Assad is a "fundamentally weak person" and controlled by his advisers. Mr Hague admits the power structure in Syria is an obstacle to finding a political and diplomatic solution.

Mr Hague is asked whether a peacedeal could be reached which would see President Assad stay in power. Mr Hague says: "It is not for us to decide who is in power in another country. But it is the position of the Syrian coalition that they want the departure of President Assad."

That brings an end to the foreign secretary's statement on Syria, which followed on from Prime Minister's Questions. Thanks for joining us. You can keep up to date on the reaction to the statement in our news story on Hague's announcement..