Keir Starmer like a man liberated by death row as he turns on patter at PMQs

He has had some difficulties over the last six months, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch regularly putting him on the spot on a Wednesday afternoon.

Sir Keir is often the most awkward man in the chamber - and that is saying something in a room full of MPs.

Despite all the recent pressure on him and speculation about his future, the PM cut a completely different figure this week.

He was like a man who had been liberated by death row. It seemed he had accepted that the end was near and the shackles were now off.

Uncharacteristically, Sir Keir was full of patter.

He opened by joking about his own fate with a tribute to “one of Manchester’s great heroes moving on after almost a decade”.

Everyone thought he was referring to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is standing in a by-election with the intention of challenging the Prime Minister’s leadership.

But the witty PM entertained all those present: “So let me congratulate Pep Guardiola on all his success at Manchester City.”

For a man who is not broadly liked by voters and has struggled to be natural in the public eye, it showed a surprising amount of self-awareness and demonstrated a (seemingly newfound) ability to laugh at himself.

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It continued throughout the session.

When Dave Doogan asked his first question since being elected as SNP Westminster leader in his usual angry style, the PM light-heartedly mocked him.

He congratulated Mr Doogan on his new role and thanked him for “his calm and reasonable approach that I’ve come to expect.”

Labour MPs giggled while an annoyed looking Mr Doogan held his arms out. Even SNP MP Graham Leadbitter - who was sitting next to his new leader - was unable to hold back a smirk.

No one was safe. When new MP Hannah Spencer asked about drinking in parliament, Sir Keir seized his chance to mock Zack Polanski - who has been in recent bother.

The PM said that the Greens “think that their leader walks on water. It turns out that he just lives on water and doesn't pay his council tax.”

The chamber lapped it up.

Where has this version of Sir Keir been over the last two years?

If he had been this confident, laidback and funny since coming into office his party may have done better in the elections earlier this month.

Instead he has too often been stilted and avoidant.

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Now that there is a prospect of his tenure ending, and his team of advisers has been gutted out, is this him finally being himself?

Anyone watching would have been forgiven if you thought Sir Keir had the full backing of almost all Labour MPs.

Backbenchers cheered in favour of the Prime Minister, laughed at his jokes and loudly jeered Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

You wouldn’t have guessed that roughly 100 of them had called for him to resign over the past couple of weeks.

Perhaps they are now supportive because it looks more that he will go in the not too distant future. They should not be so sure.

Mr Burnham could lose to Reform UK in Makerfield.

The possibility that his main contender could fall flat on his face may be what has put the PM in such good form.

Or it could be that the chance of his premiership being over soon has lifted a weight off his shoulders.