Jeremy Corbyn’s first PMQs: for many viewers, change will play well

Today’s PMQs gives Jeremy Corbyn a bit of firebreak after four days of hostile coverage. My guess is that many viewers want a change in the soap plot, they want things to look and feel different in their politics and the change in tone and format will play well with that section of the electorate.

It’s obviously not a rigorous cross-examination, it can be argued the opposition leader is reduced to a phone-in host, but for a first outing, in which you are trying to catch people’s attention and advertise a new politics, it probably worked on its own terms.

Labour officials say they will keep experimenting with approaches but it was striking that Jeremy Corbyn looked relaxed and confident at such a high pressure moment.

The fundamental problems remain. He is a leader with a massive policy agenda and few obviously achievable ways of implementing it in the face of Commons opposition.

MPs are still saying they worry he’ll collapse too soon before they’re ready to replace him. Today gave a taste of how a wind of Westminster-sceptical support might just sustain him.

His only real discomfort was when Nigel Dodds attacked John McDonnell’s praise for the IRA. But it must be said David Caneron wasn’t very discomfited. He just looked quite traditional.

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