All eyes have, in recent weeks, been on which Tory is sitting at the right hand of the party leader, David Cameron, during prime minister's questions. After Yachtgate a fortnight ago much was made of the fact that William Hague took the privileged slot and not the usual occupant - fallen golden boy George Osborne.
Osborne then dramatically reclaimed the position last week only to lose it to Hague again today. It's is a kind of Conservative squad rotation system: no one can be sure of their place.
Of even more interest today, however, was the line-up on the Labour side. With the pre-budget report just a few days off and the biggest subject in town, it was one Ed Balls, the schools secretary, who was at Brown's favoured left hand side - and not, as one might have expected, the chancellor, Alistair Darling.
Balls it was who whispered advice to the PM during heated exchanges with Cameron on the economy, while Darling sat two away to the schools secretary's left, unconsulted.
It was the same during the PM's Commons statement on Monday on the G20 meeting in Washington. Balls again was the one dripping wisdom and flattering comment into the PM's ear as he popped up and down.
All of which adds to the feeling that relations between No 10 and 11 are not all they might be as the PBR and the fiscal stimulus loom.
