PMQs verdict – Ed’s best week

In many ways the past 7/8 days have been Ed Miliband’s best as Labour leader, at the very least they have been his strongest period of sustained momentum since the phone hacking scandal.

Yesterday’s response to the PM’s statement on the EU treaty veto that wasn’t an EU treaty veto was one of his best performances as Labour leader, and thee was a legitimate concern that Ed had peaked too early this week. That may have been the case, but he still did enough to best a muddled Cameron today.

The Labour benches were boisterous as the PM rose to his feet in the final Wednesday session before the recess. The Tory benches, in contrast, seemed rather sullen.

Cameron didn’t get off to a strong start. In response to a question on the cut in frontline police, the PM responded that the percentage of police on the frontline increased. As the speaker noted rightly later in the session, the PM received an excellent education. Surely he knows the difference between percentage and total number. A poor start.

Miliband led off, predictably, with bonuses, having scored a significant win over the weekend. Cameron blustered and bumbled. It was Labour’s fault, he cried. But a change of tactics seemed to be emerging from the Labour benches. Cameron is a friend of the rich, the bankers. Not class war exactly, but the politics of class difference. Bluster again was the order of the day from Cameron, discomfort reigned on the Tory benches.

After a 4-2 question split (a change of plan from a riled Miliband in an attempt to sustain momentum), Ed went on health, listing all of those health organisations that oppose the government’s plans – including 98% of GPs. Cameron glibly tried to shrug it off. All reforms receive opposition he moaned. By that logic any reform is good reform. Even reform with near unanimous opposition. No wonder the Tories came close to scrapping the Health Bill this week.

In an attempt to turn things around, Cameron had a quote. He loves a quote. It’s a wonderful substitute for detail, or preparation. Even better, thought Dave, it was a quote from Blair, to whom he wishes to be heir.

The quote fell flat, he fumbled the ending. There were no cheers. A loss for Dave. Two in a row at PMQs. Two in a week to Ed Miliband. And dare I say it…momentum…

P.s. – however, the Tories still have an advantage in parliamentary tactics though. More on this later…