Today’s PMQs opened with a solemn set of tributes to those members of the forces who have died since the last weekly set of questions to the prime minister and of course, to the former member of parliament for Feltham and Heston, Alan Keen, whose funeral was yesterday. Once the dignified elements that tend to unite the House on a weekly basis were out of the way … it was the same old political game at play.

Wisely, Ed Miliband cut straight to the point and went for the PM on this government’s dismal record on young people and particularly those who are unemployed. Cameron blustered some attempt at a reply but when challenged that unemployment didn’t hit a million in 13 years of Labour government but it has done exactly that in just 18 months of Tory government; the PM simply said he has no plans to change course.

Labour’s arguments on the economy and particularly youth unemployment are increasingly relevant, accurate and fair; and that was reflected both in the content of Ed’s questions and how the Tory benches reacted. Clearly the Tories knew their leader was onto a bit of a loser and so made a decent amount of noise, particularly when Ed M called for a Plan B in the autumn statement.

Clearly the Tory whips had been at work because for the first 21 minutes every contribution from the Tory benches was either about or linked to the strikes on November 30. Andrew Bingham (Con, High Peak) to Richard Ottoway (Con, Croydon South) stood up and complained about the upheaval that will be caused to the people in their suburban and rural constituencies, how pension settlement expectations are too high and how the unions have got the Labour party by the balls and that’s why Labour hasn’t condemned the strikes. It’s all rubbish because the Tories simply wanted somewhere to hide from the debate that Ed M sought to start.

As for the deputy prime minister, he looked like someone who had eaten something seriously out-of-date for breakfast. There were frowns, uncomfortable shuffles and the general vibe that he really didn’t want to be there. I’ve no sympathy for him and I don’t think many in the country do either.

An honourable mention goes to Ann McKechin (Lab, Glasgow North) who asked the prime minister to change course (you’d think he would get the hint by now) because the effects of his policies are hurting women right across society – in the workplace, at home and in the wider economy. It’s just unfortunate that the prime minister’s default answer throughout this session was: we’re not changing course.

I hope they know what they are doing, I fear and increasingly events show they do not.

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Adam Jogee is a member of Progress