A period of PMQs abstinence may help us get some perspective

By Sarah Hayward / @sarah_hayward

In his bad weeks Tony Blair apparently used to joke that this was “his worst week since the last worst week”. Well Ed Miliband hasn’t really been leader long enough to have a number of worst weeks, so it seems widely agreed that the period from last Wednesday’s PMQs to and through to Sunday was pretty much the worst period of Ed’s leadership.

I didn’t see last week’s PMQs but it seemed, as it often does, to set the tone for some of the other coverage. Had Ed scored every time he shot at last week’s parliamentary trial then the coverage and reaction to the subsequent leaks would’ve been very different. People would’ve rallied more, dissenters less likely to brief against him and more likely to defend him. Of course nothing seemingly nothing would stop a Sunday newspaper making up quotes – but they might’ve thought twice, because it would’ve been less plausible had large numbers of the party been lining up to defend Ed.

Last week’s PMQs, as many week’s PMQs do, created a prism through which the subsequent days’ media viewed stories and helped shape the political reaction to them.

But here’s a news flash. PMQs is irrelevant to voters.

For those who like to get stuck in to Ed (or Brown before him) for his poor performances (note – there have also been some strong ones but we don’t rake over those do we?), or for those who want to hold Blair up as the consummate politician because he was good at it, not a single vote will be won or lost on PMQs performances.

Here’s the real bit of news. Normal people don’t watch PMQs. Normal people are at work and don’t have jobs that require or allow them to watch it. And if they’re not at work they’re running errands on their lunch break, or settling the kid down to lunch either with no TV or kids TV.

By the time they’re watching the tea time or evening news PMQs isn’t even being mentioned. PMQs, good or bad, barely registers in the real world.

The political classes are solely responsible for creating and feeding the echo chamber that allows PMQs to be a big deal. And so we can stop it being as well.

I understand why it matters and why it gets under our skin. We all want to feel our guy is winning. It settles the nerves and we can smile smugly for a couple of days, and it’s always fun to watch Nick Robinson have to report a poor Cameron performance – but that’s just schadenfreude (on two counts).

MPs and political watchers should be able to rise above the weekly leadership ordeal and look outside the Westminster bubble.

Ed’ performance at his Coin Street speech yesterday was strong. Taking real questions from real people saw him engaging, relaxed and in command – qualities he’ll need in spades as Prime Minister. It didn’t matter whether he was deciphering slightly rambling questions from the audience, or questions designed to trip him up and create another story from the media. Ed was in charge.

He was tough when he needed to be and compassionate or light hearted when he needed to be. The audience were on his side to the extent that they groaned when the question was asked about the weekend’s political intrigue and clapped & cheered when Ed swatted it away.

These are the real performances that matter. It’s these meetings with the public that will make Ed Prime Minister (or ruin his chances forever) and on yesterday’s performance he’s got the public touch to build strong leadership ratings on. But it will take time for him to build his profile.

Back in the mists of political time (late 2000), I got my first job that made PMQs required viewing. Back then the Tories had a leader who was widely regarded as a very good PMQs performer. Better than any before or since (including Cameron) who had to face Blair over the dispatch box. Come the 2001 general election he barely managed to lay a scratch on Labour’s majority.

Despite being a geek I don’t even remember those PMQs performances. By the time the election came round William Hague was probably best known for an ill-fated press trip to Notting Hill Carnival – I remember that baseball cap very clearly.

The only way PMQs can have any effect on the outcome of the next election is if we as activists or MPs through our actions, let it. The same goes for the next time Ed has a strong performance – and he has had very strong performances, lest we forget through the prism last week. Because strong performances can give us a false sense of security.

Instead of letting PMQs get you down for a week or give you a false, temporary political high, how about, tomorrow, at 12pm, we all just turn off the TV, put the remote down, and walk away from the telly. Pop to the sandwich shop, go for a walk in the park, grab yourself a double shot skinny latte. But ignore it.

Good or bad, no voter will ever raise it with you, or any canvasser of any party.