PMQs

Obviously I’m biased but I thought Ed won it. He struck an appropriate note of seriousness and gravitas. He demonstrated a willingness to be bipartisan on Afghanistan and the tragic Linda Norgrove case. He showed seriousness about the deficit and welfare reform by saying he wanted to reform Disability Living Allowance and sickness benefit. And he chose to focus on a Middle England issue by concentrating on the way the Child Benefit cut will hit families with only one working parent. The forensic probing on this was great – particularly spelling out that the loss to a family on £33,000 after tax with 3 kids was £2,500, equivalent to 6p on income tax. In contrast Cameron was shrill, kept talking about the past rather than about Ed, and seemed in electioneering rather than statesman mode. He seemed rattled.