Last star turn from David Cameron, quick, witty and deliciously cruel

The benches were packed, like the galleries above them, as David Cameron made his way into the chamber to loud cheers for his last ever prime minister's questions. Whatever else they may say about him at Westminster, everyone agrees that he has been a star performer at the despatch box, quick, witty and deliciously cruel.

As the chamber hushed in expectation for one last, vintage show, there was, on this eve of Bastille Day, a strong whiff of fin de siècle. Next to Cameron on the green benches the bloodless features of George Osborne looked out, and at the bar of the house stood Michael Gove, the blood-stained political assassin. Once leading figures in the ascendant Notting Hill set, now both wore the anxious expression of French nobles listening for the faint sound of tumbrils.

Like all the best performers on a farewell tour, Cameron treated his audience to a greatest hits medley, starting with a self-deprecating joke about the fact that "the diary for the rest of my day is remarkably light". Soon, we were into the old standards, taunting Jeremy Corbyn about the glacial pace of Labour's leadership struggle.

“We have had resignation, nomination, competition and coronation. The opposition have not even decided what the rules are yet. If they ever got into power, it would take them about a year to work out who would sit where,” he said.

Tenacity

A couple of weeks ago, Cameron had told Corbyn that he should step down for the sake of the country, but now he told him he was beginning to admire his tenacity.

"He is reminding me of the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He has been kicked so many times, but he says, "Keep going, it's only a flesh wound." I admire that," he said.

Corbyn was gracious, wishing Cameron and his family well, and referred to the prime minister’s claim that his mother would tell the opposition leader to wear a proper suit, tie up his tie and sing the national anthem.

“I would also like him to pass on my thanks to his mum for her advice about ties, suits and songs. It is extremely kind of her, and I would be grateful if he would pass that on to her personally. I am reflecting on the lesson that she offered,” he said.

Marriage equality

There were a few serious questions and a poignant moment when Cameron recalled how he was made aware of the impact of his introduction of marriage equality on tens of thousands of people.

“I will never forget the day at No 10 when one of the people who works very close to the front door said to me, ‘I’m not that interested in politics, Mr Cameron, but because of something your lot have done, I am able to marry the person I’ve loved all my life this weekend.’

“There are many amazing moments in this job, but that was one of my favourites,” he said.

Then after a few more jokes and a short speech about the virtue of public service in politics, his time was up. But before he left the chamber to a rare standing ovation from his own benches, Cameron had one, last, wistful remark, echoing his most effective put-down of Tony Blair.

“Nothing is really impossible if you put your mind to it. After all, as I once said, I was the future once,” he said.