The Ed we’d like to see

“With this prime minister, a veto is not for life, it’s just for Christmas.”

That was a good line, and a funny joke. Definitely “political” funny anyway. Potentially “real world” funny. And a massive improvement on “Ed Miliband” funny. I’ve been critical of Ed Miliband’s sub-standard gags before, but fair play to him, there were a couple of really excellent zingers thrown at the PM today. Miliband’s withering sarcasm contrasted well with the PM’s tired, overwrought and sometimes desperate attempts to describe an agreement between 25 of the 27 EU nations as something other than a treaty. Miliband bested Cameron with ease today, and even had the PM laughing at some of his gags. A good start for Ed’s new chief of staff.

This was a world away from what we’ve been used to from the opposition leader in the house.

Or was it?

Miliband may not be the best PMQs performer (although he suffers in comparison to Blair, who was something of a master of the art), but as a Parliamentary performer more broadly, he’s far better than he’s given credit for.

His best performances, as we witnessed today, come in the prepared responses to Prime Ministerial statements. He won plaudits for his responses on phone hacking, Libya and the riots off the back of similarly polished statements, which – crucially – were delivered well. They lack the hesitancy of his weekly Wednesday dispatch box encounters, and they show the Labour Party the candidate who was able to come from behind to win the leadership contest.

If this Ed could somehow be coaxed into appearing regularly at PMQs, we’d be in business…