Jeremy Corbyn shows why he shouldn’t stick to the script at PMQs

Brexit is going well, apparently. And the prime minister seemed in chipper mood at PMQs. She was even enjoying herself. To neutrals this is a distressing sight. To fans of the Tory leader it must seem downright dangerous. History has taught us that when May feels she’s on top the world, the world promptly lands on top of May.

Corbyn raised council tax. His theme was Tory misrule, higher bills and vanishing services. Privatisation fetishists at Northamptonshire, he said, had caused the council to implode entirely. May felt herself on solid ground as she fought back by cataloguing Corbyn’s troubles at council level which have led to two recent Labour defections to the Tories. She seemed to relish the thunderous dissent raised by the opposition benches. She leaned over the despatch box, taking her time about things, tilting her head this way, and then that way, smirking a little, dipping her chin winsomely, throwing out shy-Diana glances, and then pausing to smirk a little more.