PMQs verdict: Corbyn stands firm amid the turmoil as Cameron bows out

As MPs applauded to bid farewell to David Cameron the focus switched to Jeremy Corbyn, who is refusing to say goodbye.

It was a Prime Minister’s Questions unlike any other with one party leader on his way out at speed while the man sitting opposite him carried on, almost as usual, despite facing a leadership election. There was even time to talk about Larry the Downing Street cat and yes, once again, Cameron’s mother.

Corbyn looked untroubled for much of this session but that is often the way, regardless of the wider turmoil which might be rocking the Labour Party. He ran through some of his core issues – homelessness, housebuilding and home ownership – in a jovial half an hour and managed to brush off Cameron’s cracks about the protracted nature of the Opposition’s debate over the leadership with a joke about how democracy was proving to be “exciting”.

We all know banter is not exactly Corbyn’s strong point but he ducked and weaved his way through the bout with some good humour. Given that Cameron is hours from walking out of 10 Downing Street for the final time there was little opportunity – or purpose – in pursuing political point scoring. And, in fact, when an SNP politician got up to lambast him over Brexit and the nuclear weapons stationed in Scotland then she was met with groans.

Corbyn managed to dish it out, and to take it, just hours after the controverisal decision by Labour’s ruling body to install him on the leadership ballot paper, without a fresh round of MP nominations, and to re-set the membership rules for the contest. Those judgements were either a glorious victory for Jezza or a key strategic win for the rebels, depending on your stance.

In the Commons, Corbyn opened with a tribute to Cameron for his work in securing the release of Shaker Aamer from Guantanamo Bay, and for the introduction of gay marriage amid much Tory reluctance, before launching into a justified attack on the Tories’ very weak record on housebuilding in the last six years.

Cameron, as always, was prepared with some jokes about his opponent and some jibes at the role of Tom Watson, the deputy leader. He compared Corbyn to the knight in Monty Python’s Holy Grail film who claims “it’s only a flesh wound”, despite being extensively battered and bruised – although this will not go down as a classic. And, having observed the long-drawn out nature of the rebel coup against Corbyn, and the confirmation of a leadership contest running over the summer, the PM was able to boast about the swiftness with which the Tories had moved through “resignation, nomination, competition and coronation” in the last few weeks.

Corbyn was ready for this, however and told Cameron: “democracy is an exciting and splendig thing and I am enjoying every minute of it”. Not exactly a zinger but it showed there is fight left in Corbyn at a time when the PM has crumbled from election-winner to retirement in barely 12 months.

As well as some kind words about Cameron, the Labour leader also had time to spare a thought for his his mum. It was, after all, one of the PM’s most notorious – and possibly effective – attacks on Corbyn when he said his mother’s advice would have been to “get a proper suit, do up your tie and sing the national anthem”.

Today, as Corbyn asked his 180th and final question to Cameron, he said: “I would like to pass on my thanks to his mum for her advice about ties and suits and songs. I’m reflecting on the lesson she offered.”

Corbyn looked relaxed and seeemed to be enjoying his time at the despatch box. That is something of a rarity, because he has been known for delivering long questions that can lack a punch, but today he was able to tap into the good-humoured atmosphere.

Outside the chamber, the mood in the Labour Party is not so harmonious. It has been an acrimonious week so far and has capped an unhappy few months on the left. But who would have guessed, in the turbulent days after Corbyn’s election in September, that he would outlast the Prime Minister?

Indeed, the brief overlapping of Cameron and Corbyn at the top of politics has been novel rather than spectacular. There can be few opposing political leaders with so little in common in outlook or ideology.

Now, however, they have a shared experience of how draining it can be to spend time battling one’s internal political rivals. As Dave goes off to a life of more chillaxing, Corbyn is fighting for his political life. His performance in the Commons has improved but it will not be here that his future is decided. The Labour leader now has all of the summer to compete to ensure he is back here for the winter.