HE who laughs last laughs loudest.

The weekly punchfest began with the Tory toff cocking a snook at the Queen of the North, rebuffing Nicola's newfound love for the "family of nations" and saying her double majority idea on the EU referendum - ie a Scottish veto - was barking.

Or to put it more politely: "We are one United Kingdom. There will be one in-out referendum. It will be decided on a majority of those who vote; that's how the rules should work."

Then it was over to Red Ed, who with a twinkle in his eye, thought he had a wheeze to outfox the PM, pinning him down on the vote on Britain retaining the European Arrest Warrant; which, of course, a sizeable chunk of Tory eurosceptics are expected to reject.

As he rose to a loud ironic cheer, the chief comrade - flanked by Harriet in her 'this is what a feminist looks like T-shirt'- asked why Dave was delaying the vote. When the PM said there was no delay and it was a blockage due to Spanish intransigence, Ed sensed an opportunity.

"We all know the reason why he is not having a vote," he sneered. "It's the by-election in Rochester and Strood. He's paralysed by fear of another backbench rebellion on Europe," declared Red Ed, offering an Opposition Day debate before the November 20 by-election and help to get the measure through. The comrades threw their hats in the air.

But Dave had a cunning plan too. Noting how there was only one problem with the Labour leader's point, he replied: "We are going to have a vote and we're going to have it BEFORE the Rochester by-election. His questions have just collapsed." It was the Tories' turn to cheer.

But Ed noted how he looked forward to walking through the Aye lobby with his newfound Conservative chum, "two parties working together in the national interest or, given his backbenches, one and a half parties together in the national interest."

While the PM might have thought himself clever in shooting the Labour fox on the European Arrest Warrant, the reality is that ahead of the Rochester by-election, Mr C is now facing the biggest Tory revolt of his premiership when he will have to rely on the socialists to win the vote.

Come November 21, it won't be Dave who is laughing but Red Ed. And, of course, the Chief Ukipper himself, Old Nige.