Keir Starmer’s PMQs debut? Just dull enough to be a danger for the government

Parliament is very different under social distancing rules – but something else has changed: the leader of the opposition has made the Conservatives nervous, writes John Rentoul

Keir Starmer's first PMQs as Labour leader, 22 April 2020 (Reuters TV)

When Jeremy Corbyn became leader of the opposition, David Cameron was astute enough to be worried that he would not feel under pressure, and that the quality of his government’s decision-making would suffer.

Just before he stood down a year later, he said so publicly: “It might be in my party’s interest for him to sit there – he’s not in the national interest. I would say: for heaven’s sake, man, go!”

Well, he’s finally gone – although he was still in the House of Commons chamber on the backbenches during today’s Prime Minister’s Questions. And the difference was marked.