Theresa May ‘just about managing’ to fend off Jeremy Corbyn as MPs get that end of term feeling at final pre-summer PMQs

THERE was an end of term feeling to the final PMQs before MPs jet off on their holi-bobs.

Lashings of praise for the unsung heroes of Commons staff, with one eye on the exit and thoughts already turned to sipping rosé by the swimming pool.

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Even the Chief Whip was bored, barely stifling his yawns as the two leaders went through motions for one last time before the long summer recess.

You got the impression that no one was really that enthusiastic about sitting through the usual ping pong.

Corbyn had some good lines about overpaid public sector workers - “given the PM has had to administer a slap down to her own squabbling cabinet, was she talking about her own ministers?”

But he was barely reading them with any flare. “Just about managing”, replied the Maybot.

“One in eight workers - 3.2 million - in work are now living in poverty” said Jez.

“The Labour party crashed the economy”, replied the Maybot.

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There were a lot of digs about Theresa May and reality from Mr Corbyn, which threatened to be interesting for a moment or two.

The “PM’s lack of touch with reality…. rising prices, food costs and transport costs" he shouted.

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“The best route out of poverty is work,” replied the Maybot.

“Could I invite the PM to take a check with reality on this...” he hit back for a second bite.

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Mrs May got there in the end, turning the attack on its head, saying “the reality is that the right honourable gentleman is always talking Britain down”.

And the reality theme could start to stick were it to continue with precision as an attack line.

But as it stands, the reality is Mr Corbyn is still not up to scratch in this arena.

And so as the beach called, Tory MPs will be able to scrape a sliver of comfort from the fact the PM is - to coin a phrase - just about managing.

SCORE: Theresa May 4 vs 2 Jeremy Corbyn