Andy Burnham faced a withering attack from Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions, with the Conservative leader accusing him of repeatedly tying himself in knots during their first major Commons clash since the party conference season.
The Prime Minister, who had made headlines for differing reasons in his set-piece speech away from Westminster, found himself on the back foot as Badenoch went on the offensive from the start.
Badenoch's brutal opening
Straight away she went studs-up on the PM, accusing him of repeatedly tying himself in knots. Badenoch rifled in shots on everything from North Sea drilling, Defence spending and the Man City scandal.
If it was a game of footy it would have been all over by halftime, with the opposition leader at her mesmerising best.
Burnham's mis-speaking habit
The problem for Burnham is that it's quite difficult when you have your foot in your mouth all time. His knack of mis-speaking is fast becoming a bad habit, with past gaffes including Russia meddling with Brexit, his apparent support for Man City, choosing welfare over national security and suggesting football fans would soon be allowed to drink pints on the terraces.
This time, he seemingly committed Contempt of Court regarding Ann Widdecombe's alleged killer.
PM fights back
Burnham, to his credit, steadied the ship, regrouped and came back for more in a way that his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, wouldn't have been able to do.
He delivered the full repertoire from the King of the North, showing Lefty Andy, passionate Andy and conciliatory Andy, even praising his "brave" opposite number for her stance against Reform UK during a recent race row.
Elsewhere, Ed Davey got the biggest cheer of the day as MPs mercilessly mocked the under-threat Lib Dem leader. Nigel Farage, meanwhile, was given a dose of the Burnham benevolence, with the PM acknowledging threats to his safety.
