Ed Miliband unleashed his best ever gag at the start of prime minister's questions on Wednesday, mocking David Cameron for reports he has been forced to abandon his plans to introduce a minimum price for alcoholic drinks.
"In the light of his u-turn on alcohol pricing can the prime minister tell us if there is anything he could organise in a brewery?" the Labour leader said to roars of laughter from his MPs.
It has been reported that opposition to the policy from his cabinet, including from former health secretary Andrew Lansley, education secretary Michael Gove and home secretary Theresa May - who is said to be positioning herself to challenge for the Tory leadership - Cameron has had to drop the plan.
Miliband joked: "He obviously could not tell us about his policy on alcohol minimum unit pricing, I think the reality is he has just been overruled by the home secretary on this one."
The barb did not go down well with May, who, stood next to the Speaker's chair rather than sat on the government front bench, responded with her now trademark 'death stare'.
Downing Street has refused to say whether plans for minimum pricing had been dropped, insisting the policy will be unveiled in "due course".
The prime minister's official spokesperson said there was a "real problem with deep discounting and the impact of anti-social behaviour" that had to be tackled.
During PMQs Cameron was directly confronted in the Commons by Tory MP Sarah Wollaston - a former GP - who said abandoning minimum pricing would "critically undermine future efforts".
He told her: "There is a problem with deeply discounted alcohol in supermarkets and other stores and I am absolutely determined that we will deal with this.
"We published proposals, we are looking at the consultation and the results to those proposals, but be in no doubt, we've got to deal with the problem of having 20p or 25p cans of lager available in supermarkets. It's got to change."
A confident Miliband, who enjoyed one of his best PMQs performances to date, said reported cabinet splits showed the government was "falling apart".
"A week out from the Budget, they have got an economic policy that's failing, a prime minister that makes it up as he goes along and all the time, it's the country that is paying the price," he said.
Tory Leadership Race
Boris Johnson(01 of07)
Open Image ModalTheresa May(02 of07)
Open Image ModalCurrent position: Home SecretaryRides: "Beyond The Borders"Odds to win: 4/1For: Politically, May is a shrewd and successful operator who has done a credible job as home secretary, a role that has tripped up many previous politicians. The first female chair of the Conservative Party. Also part of the trio named by Cameron as his possible successors.Against: A Tory minister recently described May as "100% charmless" and the only benefit that her appointment as leader would bring would be "net migration". She would be 63 by the time of the 2020 general election - the only woman, but also the oldest of the three frontrunners. (credit:PA/Composite)
George Osborne(03 of07)
Open Image ModalCurrent position: Chancellor Rides: "Red Box Makeover"Odds to win: 7/1For: Osborne has seen a turnaround in fortunes after stumbling at a few early budget hurdles. Last budget generally seen as a resounding success and management of the economy has arguably put Britain ahead of Europe in the recovery. Has had a personal makeover including his new close-cropped haircut dubbed 'The Osborne'. Also part of the trio named by Cameron as his possible successors.Against: His privileged background is well-known, and his membership of the Bullingdon Club - an Oxford dining society for the very rich, of which Cameron was also a member - particularly riles those who believe he does not have the common touch. He is considered a political heavyweight, but being a good chancellor does not necessarily translate to being a good party leader and prime minister, as recent history has shown
Sajid Javid(04 of07)
Open Image ModalCurrent position: Culture SecretaryRides: "Rising Star"Odds to win: 10/1For: Javid, the son of Pakistani immigrants, is the first of the Tory MPs elected in 2010 to become a cabinet minister.Against: Close to George Osborne, he may choose to give the Chancellor a clear path at the leadership.
Philip Hammond(05 of07)
Open Image ModalCurrent position: Defence SecretaryRides: "Stripped Down Defender"Odds to win: 10/1For: Erm...Against: Recently received a "slapping down" from Danny Alexander for publicly complaining about defence cuts.Also, he's possibly the most "beige" of all the prospective candidates. (credit:PA/Composite)
Liam Fox(06 of07)
Open Image ModalMichael Gove(07 of07)
Open Image ModalCurrent position: Tory Chief WhipRides: "Baccalaureate Backtrack" Odds to win: 100/1For: Gove is highly regarded within the Tory party as charming, polite and capable.Against: He has taken a bruising both from the public and other Tories for some of his proposals in his former job as Secretary of State for Education. (credit:PA/Composite)