PMQs Verdict: Miliband wins – but Cameron doesn’t let answers (or facts) get in the way of attacks

Well it was better than last week (and the week before) – I can say that of this week’s PMQs with some confidence. This was one of the better sessions between these two leaders since conference season. That much is clear. And yet it’s also a terrifyingly low bar. PMQs has been dismal recently, and last week’s “you’re bad at immigration. No YOU’RE bad at immigration” circular firing squad was a particular low point.

And today was better than that certainly. Although it still risks having the same depressing outcome – boosting the far right wingers of UKIP in the upcoming Rochester by-election.

Because this week was all about Europe.

Miliband used the topic to give one of his best recent performances. He chided the PM for having a clear position on the AV referendum and the Scotland referendum – but not being able to say how he’d vote in the EU referendum (the one he himself has asked for). In return, Cameron claimed that Miliband has no position on Europe, to which the Labour leader replied:

“my position on Europe is the same as the Prime Minster’s was – until he lost his backbenchers”

It’s a good line, which happens to be true. Even if you don’t like Miliband’s line on Europe (and I don’t – I want a referendum) it’s coherent and easy to explain. He wants to change Europe, but he doesn’t want to leave, and he doesn’t want a referendum unless the EU wants to have more powers. There we go Prime Minister, it’s not hard to explain is it? I did it in a sentence. I’m not sure the PM – who won’t admit how he’d vote in his own referendum, despite claiming two years ago he’d stay in Europe regardless – could do likewise.

The PM’s position on Europe is nonsense – and Miliband was right to call him on it.

Cameron instead caterwauled about Miliband not listening to his answers – a useless response, as he hadn’t given any answers. Instead the PM sought to quote the Shadow Deputy Leader of the House (Thomas Docherty, if you were wondering). It was hardly an enlightening exchange…

Alas, the Europe debate (if we can call it that) was a high point of PMQs. Cameron followed up his non-answers with an attack on John Prescott and a claim – a ludicrous maddening claim – that he’s responsible for there being more doctors in the NHS. It takes 10 years to train a GP and 14 years to train a surgeon. David Cameron has been PM for just four and a half years.

But never let answers or facts get in the way of the attacks, eh Prime Minister?