As expected, today’s PMQs was dominated by Europe, mainly from the Conservative benches, whilst Labour continued to bombard Cameron with questions on the increasing financial pressures women and the most vulnerable were facing.  Cameron was certainly squeezed from both sides and never have I seen such furrowed brows from Cameron, Clegg and Osborne.

Who won?

Today was more about who lost – and it was clearly Cameron.  He faced an endless number questions on Europe, from the most pro-European to the most anti and during the onslaught Nick Clegg sat disinterested staring to the far end of the chambers, offering no support of his own.

Calmly, Ed put his questions on how the poorest third of families would be hit harder than the richest third – figures which Cameron disputed, tripping over his words.  Ed Balls waived the printed figures from his seat and Cameron ignored the question, merely using his age old line about the previous government’s economic record but giving little to support his own position.  Ed rose again simply repeating the line ‘the figures speak for themselves…the figures speak for themselves’.

Ed was very calm today, at one point simply raising his hand to calm the benches as he spoke.  But he won almost by default, he didn’t need to fight hard today – Cameron’s own benches were helping to bring down their own.

Best backbencher?

Pat McFadden for his question about Cameron’s manifesto promise on repatriation of legal and criminal rights and employment and social legislation, and accusing Cameron of leading his party ‘up the garden path’.  By this point Cameron was clearly rattled – a lock of usually well manicured hair fell across his reddened face and again he fell over his words.

Best question, answer, comment or joke?

It would be remiss of me not to mention Mr Mark Tami, who asked if Mr Cameron would be having his usual Christmas bash with Rebecca Brooks and Jeremy Clarkson and would they be discussing how out of touch they all are with British public opinion.  I guess it just had to be said.

Victoria MacDonald is a Norwich City Councillor and cabinet member for housing and blogs at victoriamacdonald.wordpress.com/