Mr Blair is wearing a garish pink and purple tie.
The PM begins by paying condolences to the Catholic church worldwide for the loss of its leader.
Loyalist Tony Lloyd reminds the house that in 1997 the biggest issue in his Manchester Central constituency was unemployment under the Tories. "What advice would the PM give to my constituents?" he ends, before the Speaker shuts him up.
There are 2 million more people in jobs since 1997, confirms Mr Blair, before listing other elements of Labour's economic record. "It's interesting that the Conservatives used to run on the economy, now they run away from it!" he concludes.
Mr Howard joins in the condolences for "a towering spiritual leader".
Pointing out that Labour raised national insurance contributions after the 2001 election, the Tory leaders asks, in the alleged words of Gordon Brown, "Why should anyone trust him again?"
Tory plans would take £2bn out of the NHS to pay for subsidising private operations, returns Mr Blair.
12.05pm
Mr Howard won't let go: he claims the PM did promise not to raise national insurance, before going on to point out that the 2001 Labour manifesto promised to oppose top-up fees, indeed to "legislate against them" - before introducing them.
Mr Blair sets about Mr Howard's record: the poll tax, unemployment, cutting police numbers and opposing the minimum wage, he says.
The Tory chief tacks back to immigration, claiming Labour has let the system get out of control. The PM says the Conservatives would halve the immigration budget - "and it's an issue which should be dealt with not exploited".
Big cheers - but Mr Howard has a ready response: "Hands up how many of you are putting Mr Blair on your election leaflets," he challenges Labour's backbenchers - before counting up to a measly six.
Loud Tory laughter.
"I know which photo we do have up: the right honourable gentleman's, so we remind people what they'd be going back to," responds Mr Blair.
He then quotes the chief constable of North Wales's criticism of the Tories' crime posters for inaccurate statistics.
Mr Howard's back: "Those figures are the police's own figures," he cries.
"Where's the election coordinator [Alan Milburn]? He's hiding today!" says Mr Howard, before spotting him behind the Speaker's chair.
No, it's a choice between the plans rejected by the electorate in 1997 and our future programme and theirs, says Mr Blair.
"Taxes up, crime up, immigration up, waiting times up, truancy up," begins Mr Howard, with his 160-something MPs behind him supplying the choruses. A medley of things that have gone down follows.
"I agree it means a choice," begins Mr Blair in statesmanlike manner, after the pantomime performance.
"Economic stability is at risk, your job is at risk, your mortgage is at risk," that's what I say to the British public, counters Mr Blair.
"Unless people come out and support it, that stability will be turned back" adds the PM, clearly with one eye on turnout.
12.15pm
The SDLP's John Hume returns to "serious matters": would the PM use his "massive international respect" to bring about a world without any conflict, by using the EU's record for conflict resolution to set up a new department of conflict resolution?
Mr Blair pays tribute to Mr Hume's peacekeeping efforts in Northern Ireland.
Charles Kennedy's turn. Surely women should get a state pension of right, rather than by contribution levels? Why hasn't the government done anything on this in eight years?
The PM points to free TV licences and other benefits in kind to pensioners.
Mr Kennedy switches to Labour's broken promise on top-up fees: why should anybody believe the government's manifesto this time around.
Mr Blair criticises the Lib Dem's top rate of tax as not raising the revenues the party claims it will to pay for free higher education.
Julian Lewis asks about the attorney general's written legal advice on the war at the final cabinet meeting: were members of the cabinet allowed to ask questions of Lord Goldsmith or not?
Mr Blair says the foreign secretary has already answered these points, without explaining what the answer was, before hurrying on to the more standard line on the war, that even those who opposed it at the time should back Iraqi elections now.
12.20pm
Retiring Labour MP Helen Jackson pays tribute to the government's record on unemployment.
Birmingham Northfield MP Richard Burden asks about the fate of Rover's 6,000 workers.
We will do whatever we can to get a rightful resolution of it, says the PM.
"What does the PM most regret about his time in office?" ponders Tory Michael Spicer.
"We could have done with even fewer Tories," he stonewalls.
12.25pm
Lib Dem Steve Webb complains his two local hospitals are merging, with the net result being fewer beds.
"I can promise him there will be no cuts in NHS spending," replies the PM, not quite answering the question asked.
Labour's Kevin Brennan jokes that the Tory party has "something of the Flight about it", a pun on the familiar refrain of Mr Howard's having "something of the night about him".
Mr Blair picks up on a Tory yawning, and says the British people aren't bored by economic stability.
The PM picks up the mantra of the Tories "taking £35bn out of public spending".
John Grogan says Labour's election promise is "two for one" - get a PM "tested by fire" and a chancellor "with good future prospects".
Mr Brown, sitting on the left of the standing PM, grins widely and eyes Mr Blair beadily.
"On that happy note, I wish everyone well," concludes the PM.
