PMQs Verdict: Cameron bashed over housing crisis, but Hunt and Osborne breathe sigh of relief

Somewhere, Jeremy Hunt is wringing out the sweat from the handkerchief he used to mop his brow during PMQs. He got away lightly there.

The Health Secretary will be mighty relieved that yesterday’s junior doctors’ strike got no mention at PMQs, George Osborne will be grateful his leadership ambitions received no bashing with scrutiny on recent economic warnings, and David Cameron will no doubt be slipping his briefing on Tory splits over Europe back into his preparation folder.

Corbyn today took the Prime Minister to task over the UK’s housing crisis and did well – he even cracked a joke at one point, slamming Cameron’s meagre promise of £140 million to ‘regenerate’ council estates. “It isn’t even going to pay for the bulldozers, is it?” asked the Labour leader, before promptly sitting down. Is Corbyn actually starting to enjoy PMQs? His deadpan delivery makes it hard to tell.

And while Corbyn’s questions were good, they did little to expose Cameron who, as so often, plainly refused to answer any of them. The PM is a smart debater, and handy with a turn of phrase. He argued that Labour was opposed to aspiration without ever looking too hassled.

So yes, while Corbyn’s questions were fine, and while housing is a hugely important topic, we may be forgiven for scratching our heads and wondering why all six of the Opposition leader’s questions were devoted to it.