Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from the latest session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through.

What they sparred about: Asylum seekers and prison. It was a duel of the deputies as Keir Starmer’s second in command, David Lammy, took on Shadow Defence Secretary, James Cartlidge, while the PM hung out at COP30 in Brazil. The deputy PM admitted he had expected to face Shadow Justice Secretary (and wannabe Tory leader) Robert Jenrick.

The hardest word: Cartlidge, admittedly not the best known figure outside Westminster, referenced an ITV News interview with the father of the 14-year-old girl who had been sexually assaulted by Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu … the man who was mistakenly freed for 48 hours. “Will he apologise to the family concerned?”

Moment of contrition: Lammy insisted he’d already obliged with that request. “In the debate, of course, I said sorry for the anxiety caused whilst Kebatu was at large, and I repeat that.” Who knew a direct question could get a direct answer?

Not so fast: The shadow defence secretary made clear Kebatu’s quick capture wasn’t good enough. Cartlidge wanted Lammy, the justice secretary after all, to guarantee that “no other asylum-seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison” since the mistaken release. Answer came there none. The justice secretary slammed Cartlidge’s former tenure as a justice minister, “who let our prisons get into that state in the first place.”

This may be why: Just after their exchange, the Telegraph reported a manhunt was underway for an Algerian asylum seeker mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth last week, but the Met Police was only informed on Tuesday. The Met has now confirmed the story.

Hell yes, I’m tough enough: Aware that his question had gone unanswered, Cartlidge had another go. Lammy spoke only about about implementing the “toughest checks we have ever had in the prison system” and ripped into the “complicated system” introduced by, obvs, the Tories.

Trappings of office: If at first you don’t succeed, try again. “He’s the justice secretary. He’s responsible for the justice system. He needs to take responsibility,” the shadow defense secretary stressed. “Get a grip, man!” Lammy boomed back. “I know I’m the justice secretary. That’s why I’m at the despatch box.” Just wait till you get back to the MoJ …

As per: There was the usual back and forth as Cartlidge continued probing and Lammy slammed his questioning efforts. “I spent 14 years in opposition, and I did a hell of a lot better than he has just done,” Lammy said, though MPs, hacks, and the public were left none the wiser until the Telegraph’s story broke.

Six not out: Speaker Lindsay Hoyle originally went back to Cartlidge even after all six of the questions had been asked (if not answered). Much hilarity ensued as the Tory spokesperson briefly rose to the despatch box … before getting slapped down by the speaker. Admittedly, few people kept count, given it was the same question again and again.

Helpful backbench intervention of the week: Erewash MP Adam Thompson praised the national minimum wage increase despite Tory and Reform UK’s opposition, asking whether any of Nigel Farage’s extra jobs paid below the minimum wage. Lammy, no changes here, took the bait and laid into the Reform UK chief’s outside earnings accordingly.

Totally unscientific scores on the doors: Lammy 5/10. Cartlidge 6/10. Who knows whether Cartlidge had a tip-off about the Telegraph’s scoop, bringing yet more headaches for the government? Regardless, Lammy’s inability to provide certainty about mistaken releases became clearer after the revelation. Though Cartlidge didn’t specifically probe him on the manhunt, and incorrectly thought he had an extra question, pushing mistakenly released asylum seekers back up the news agenda has left ministers in a far weaker position.