A good start

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Today saw a strong first outing at PMQs from Ed Miliband, and a salutary warning for those who still doubt his abilities as party leader. Of course today was never going to be make or break. It is difficult to imagine any serious scenario in which Ed could have significantly damaged his standing so early, but as a means of presenting himself to the country – like his speech at conference – it struck the right tone.

PMQs can often be shouting matches between two angry, tribal groups of opposing MPs, and in the end this one ended up in that same place. Yet Ed’s calm, measured and reasonable demeanour contrasted with Cameron’s increasingly shrill and evasive responses. Responsible opposition was signalled through his backing of William Hague over the decisions surrounding hostage Linda Norgrove’s death, and an indication that Labour will work with the government on benefit reform. His criticism of the unfairness of child benefit reform however was smart and measured – noting a specific example of a type of family being hit at a rate comparable to 6p on the basic rate of income tax, and losing £2,500. The PM had no response, and Ed had the upper hand.

Ed managed to land several punches on the Prime Minister for his failure to talk straight and answer the questions. He also delivered the exchange’s only ‘zinger’, which should make the evening news tonight:

“I may be new to this game but I think I ask the questions and he should answer them.”

Cameron – usually a polished commons performer – didn’t seem at his best today. He seemed to flounder in the face of Ed’s (perhaps unexpected) confidence, and fell back on criticisms of Labour’s record. Whilst this is, of course, something that Labour PM’s spent thirteen years perfecting the art of, it did appear to be an evasive tactic, and one that suggested a lack of preparation. Cameron was so distracted at one point that he claimed not to have heard a question about the winter fuel allowance – something I don’t remember him doing before.

As the session wound down, questions from the Tory benches seemed aimed at provoking a response from Labour and the new opposition leader – especially on tuition fees. Labour MPs didn’t bite. The New Generation held their nerve. And Ed Miliband won the first round of this five year tussle. There will be so many of these sessions before the next general election that we’re unlikely to remember this first one when the final reckoning comes. But if Cameron underestimated Ed Miliband before, he won’t next time around. Perhaps now he sees the scale of the task ahead of him.