Nick Clegg's big day

MPs of all shades seemed impressed by Nick Clegg's first performance at Prime Minister's Questions. No stumbling, clear delivery, strong choice of subject. It worked in the chamber, but was better on TV, apparently. In the post-match deconstruction in Members' Lobby, some on his own side acknowledged that Vince Cable-style star quality has yet to develop. "He needed to get over the psychological barrier," suggested one, but the look of relief was palpable on many Lib Dem faces, not least Clegg's.

No jokes yet, and deliberately so. The strategy was to keep it serious - humour is fine for an interim leader - but the high-minded promises of his victory speech needed to be fleshed out. Labour MPs on the left of the party and centre-ground Tories both agreed that he had picked a good subject - fuel prices and the impact on the poor - and there was considerable detail in his question. Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron fell over themselves to be welcoming, although Cameron must have been hoping to fluster his new opponent by choosing a pet Clegg topic - ID cards - for himself.

So having received advice from Vince, Sir Ming, Paddy and other Lib Dem luminaries, how did he prepare? Helping him from 9.30am this morning were Jon Oates, Director of Policy & Communications, Hannah Gardiner, his new head of press, Euan Roddin, the leader's speechwriter, and Polly Mackenzie, his long-standing policy adviser. The only MP to join them was Danny Alexander, his chief of staff. He then spent a while on his own rehearsing.

Lib Dem strategists said afterwards that his choice showed that Clegg, not Cameron, had focused on an issue that really mattered to voters. Now he has to be more than just competent to make his mark.