I’VE JUST returned from a focus group organised by Hansard, looking at the future of communications between the public and parliament. The question of Prime Minister’s Questions was raised briefly, with a general consensus round the table that it did not show the Commons in the best light.

I’m not so sure.

I think politics should be confrontational. That’s why I’m utterly opposed to redesigning the Commons chamber to make it semi-circular, in line with the model used in parts of Europe. If I wanted to hold hands and meditate on what unites me with my opponents I would have entered group therapy, not become an MP. I see nothing wrong with a confrontational aspect to politics. PMQs remains the only vaguely interesting event that parliament produces each week, the only part of the Commons agenda to which TV producers — who, let’s face it, know what their audiences want — are willing to give air time.

Constituents tell us that they respect conviction politicians, yet others will say they want us to be consensual and bi-partisan. Those two views can often be in direct contradiction. When the occasion demands, the Commons can produce moments of clarity and leadership. At other times, we behave like childish schoolboys whose teacher has left the room for five minutes. It’s rough, it’s intimidating, it’s frequently funny and more frequently immature.

That’s why I love it.