PMQs Verdict: Ed should have shown “iron discipline” and talked about the economy

This week the Labour Party is rigorously focussed on spending and the economy. On Monday Ed Balls made a weighty speech to Reuters in which he outlined an alternative economic approach, as well as a specific welfare cut. Tomorrow Ed Miliband is making a major speech on Britain’s social security system, in which he’ll be talking about speeding in that area.

So why did Ed Miliband lead on the A&E crisis? It’s certainly an important issue, and Labour is hauling Jeremy Hunt into the Commons this afternoon. A (very good) email about A&E has gone out to Labour supporters from the party this afternoon. Miliband’s questions today were clearly planned as part of the “grid”. But if this week was to be about the economy and spending choices, why are we sandwiching the NHS in the middle.

If we’re keen on “iron disciple” we need it in our messaging too.

More bafflingly still, the first question at PMQs was from Rushanara Ali. She’s a Junior Minister, and you’d assume her question had been agreed with Miliband and the Labour whips. It was on the Tory estimates for the deficit spiralling from £18 billion to £96 billion. It was spectacularly on message. It seemed like the perfect tee-up for Miliband’s questions.

But questions on the economy never came, and Cameron was keen to seize on that fact.

None of this is to say that Miliband’s performance today was poor – it wasn’t – but in a week when the focus is clearly on the Economy, we shifted to the NHS (so,etching everyone is the country knows our position on) mid week.

And I’m not entirely sure why…