Who won?

Rarely has PMQs been as entertaining as it was today! We’re seeing Ed Miliband grow into the role of opposition leader, and he’s clearly grown in confidence; today he was sharp and on the ball. PMQs is always at its best when you have two strong figures batting it out – Cameron has been a strong PMQs performer since he became prime minister, but Ed’s growing confidence in the house is starting to make PMQs less one-sided and the gladiatorial debate it should be. Ed broke the ice by assuring the House that both he and Cameron would be ‘suitably attired’ for the royal wedding, and went on to hammer DC over the poor economic growth figures out this morning. DC’s ‘we’re out of the danger zone’ comment six months ago and the depth and speed of the budget cuts which most on the opposition benches believe has curtailed growth. Cameron attempted a comeback, trotting out the (erroneous) comparisons to Portugal and Greece and reminding Ed that the economy never grew by more than 0.5 per cent in any quarter that Miliband was a minister.

No overall winner this week; Ed Miliband is looking stronger, David Cameron always puts on a good performance, but some of his lines are starting to sound old.

Best backbench question

Nadine Dorries, in typical Dorries style, asked whether the Yes to AV campaign’s leaflets are an affront to parliament and therefore British democracy. The question itself wasn’t all that brilliant, but what happened next was a wonderful piece of political theatre, highlighting the coalition dynamics at the heart of the government. Cameron presented a vigorous defence, with the rowdy support of the Tory benches, of the FPTP voting system, while the TV cameras went to a wide-angle shot showing Nick Clegg vigorously shaking his head and smiling at the same time. I guess the pair at the heart of government have found something ‘to disagree on at the bloody TV debates’ after all…

Comic relief

Undoubtedly David Cameron telling Angela Eagle to ‘calm down dear’ was my comic highlight of this week’s PMQs. Runner-up in comic relief was Lib Dem MP Ian Swales pointing out, rather magnificently, that if David Cameron was such a proponent of FPTP then perhaps he should step aside for David Davis MP to lead the Conservative party because after all, Cameron himself was elected leader under an internal Alternative Vote selection contest.