Newly elected Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn used his first appearance at "prime minister's question time" Wednesday to call for an end to the sometimes rude and stagy confrontations between the British government and opposition.

He urged Prime Minister David Cameron to drop the hyperbole and instead answer thoughtful questions posed by some 40,000 citizens who had responded to Corbyn's request for input from the public about issues that needed to be raised.

"Many told me that they thought PMQs was too theatrical, that Parliament was out of touch and too theatrical and they wanted things done differently," said Corbyn.

He indicated he wants a fundamental change in the raucous weekly confrontations that have become a staple of British political life and that often devolve into shouting matches.

The veteran left-winger, who represents a sharp break with the Labour Party's two-decade move to the political center, had already raised hackles by not singing the national anthem, "God Save the Queen," at a World War II memorial event the day before.

He challenged Cameron on the need for more affordable housing, less "extortionate" rent for tenants, and better mental health care in his first questions to the prime minister, whose Conservative Party won a convincing victory in a national election earlier this year.

Cameron congratulated Corbyn on winning the Labour Party leadership contest that concluded Saturday with a landslide victory for the unorthodox candidate.

"I know we will have many strong disagreements," he said, adding that they should work together in the national interest when possible.

Cameron said he would be delighted if prime minister's questions became a more serious forum for posing and answering questions.

But old habits die hard: A question posed by a member of the Scottish National Party quickly turned into a familiar mudslinging match.