As is now traditional at prime minister's questions, proceedings began with a whips' planted enquiry designed to give Gordon Brown a friendly warm up and use as much time as possible.
This week Stoke-on-Trent North's Robert Flello obliged, praising the economy and allowing the PM to trot out the usual list "proving" the health of the UK's finances.
Unfortunately Flello had not learnt his lines and Conservative backbenchers enjoyed themselves chanting that he was "reading" every time he glanced at his notes - which he did every other word. Reading from notes is of course against Parliamentary convention.
Another, and more seriously taken, convention is that when asking a question MPs are only allowed to directly address Speaker Michael Martin and are forbidden from referring to each other as "you".
When asking his questions about the government's approach to the Northern Rock crisis David Cameron repeatedly flouted the rule.
"When it came to a total guarantee for depositors you dithered and delayed, when it came to the opportunity of pushing for a sale with Lloyds TSB you dithered and delayed and when it came to the advice that you were getting to sell this bank straight after the bank run you dithered and delayed.
"Why did you dither and delay? Because you were planning a general election," Cameron said with the indulgence of the Speaker.
This breach of the rules was not overlooked by education committee chairman Barry Sheerman, who told ePolitix.com that the leader of the opposition had behaved like a "hooligan" and turned the Commons chamber into a "brawling house."
The hoodies in Mr Sheerman's constituency must be pretty tame if he regards that as the behaviour of a hooligan but still he had a point.
Mr Speaker also said that Cameron should be allowed to "answer the question in the way he wants to answer" when he had been pressed by Brown to say if he continued backing the government injecting liquidity into the bank.
He had to be reminded by furious Tory backbenchers that the leader of the opposition did not have to answer any questions during questions to the prime minister - the clue is in the title.
Cameron used all of his time to press Brown on Northern Rock - an institution now supported by a staggering £1,800 from every single taxpayer in the country.
Brown defended the government, suggesting their action had averted wider problems.
"We had to intervene to ensure stability so that the instability of Northern Rock would not spread out across the economy, that is what we achieved over the last four months and the opposition should be supporting us not criticising us," he said
Cameron asked some very specific questions about the amount of the loans to the bank but was not given a straight answer.
The prime minister fell back on the "we will not give a running commentary" excuse which did not sound terribly convincing.
However in general Brown did sound more comfortable than in preceding sessions - his stutter was not noticeable and he seemed much more in control of his temper.
On his second outing, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg asked about "rocketing" home repossessions, which he said would affect 45,000 families this year, accusing the government of encouraging "grossly irresponsible lending by banks".
He asked if Brown would take action or "just sit there wringing his hands while British families lose their homes".
Last week Clegg asked about rising energy costs and this bread and butter stuff seems an effective way of getting used to what can be a very intimidating forum for the newcomer.
During the Lib Dem leadership campaign, party elders warned the contenders not to criticise each other and provide hostages to fortune.
Now Brown duly produced a dossier published by Chris Huhne which accused Clegg of "flip-flopping" on the economy.
The Verdict
Gordon Brown - 7/10 - Sounded more comfortable but then you would expect that on economic issues.
David Cameron - 6/10 - Tried to make the "ditherer" label stick to Brown but breaking the rules was not very edifying.
Nick Clegg - 7/10 - Nothing too challenging but competent on a bread and butter issue that matters to "hard working families".
