PMQs: In the real world Jeremy Corbyn won’t be able to side-eye voters until they listen to him

As a die-hard fan of Prime Minister’s Questions I’m beginning to despair at how tedious it’s become. An arena that gave us elite rivalries such as Margaret Thatcher v Neil Kinnock and Tony Blair v William Hague now plays host to David Cameron v Jeremy Corbyn. It’s a rivalry unworthy of its surroundings, like watching a pub team play at Wembley.

Both men seem determined to make the exchanges as cringeworthy as possible. Cameron relishes a rowdy chamber but you can only use pre-prepared put-downs when your opponent is engaging on your terms. The standard Commons performance that the Prime Minister turns in now looks bizarre when Corbyn refuses to accept the rules of engagement. You’re left with the sight of Cameron shouting at a quiet man (who is reluctant to turn up the volume).

Corbyn’s main problem, apart from his clear nerves, is his over-sensitivity. He needs to chill out. The best way to deal with heckles is to rise above them. Use them as an opportunity to show wit and grace. Jezza does neither, preferring to stare people down like a supply teacher losing control of the classroom. Rather than look authoritative, it makes him look arrogant. He can get away with it once or twice but if it becomes a staple of his style he’ll struggle to stop using it. Imagine him on a rowdy Question Time during an election campaign. If he stares at a group of voters like that, he won’t be met with silence but with boos.

The panto of PMQs is still as daft as ever (which is a good thing) and despite what he says, Corbyn contributes to it as much as Cameron. Of course it looks bad when Tory MPs guffaw like a sycophantic 70s studio audience while he asks questions about tax credits but let’s be honest, despite what crowing Labour MPs may say on Twitter, we know that they’re not laughing at the plight of people affected. They’re laughing at the leader of the opposition. Who deserves to be laughed at as much as any other senior politician when they behave oddly.

Politics is a serious business, it directly impacts people’s lives, disproportionately the most vulnerable. But it is also an arena for ideas to be debated vigorously and with humour. Those who wish to destroy PMQs and make it tedious already have their way. The rest of the Parliamentary calendar is broadly more reasoned and forensic. How many people bother to watch select committee coverage? PMQs doesn’t just reflect our vibrant democracy – it’s good that our leader has to face intense questioning – it also reflects our national character. We take our problems seriously, but we shouldn’t take ourselves too much so. Both men should remember that.

Matt Forde is a comedian and broadcaster. He is currently on tour with his new show 'Get The Political Party Started', with upcoming dates in Brighton (4 Nov) and Nottingham (10 Nov). For more information and tickets go to: mattforde.com/live