Matt Forde: The Political Party

In an age of such flagrant cynicism in politics, you have to admire Matt Forde in his attempt to restore our faith in the people that lead us, even if he doesn't quite achieve it.

Stories of following round Charles Kennedy in a chicken costume and a surreal 'prank call' from Dennis Skinner are amusing enough and Forde does a reasonable job of injecting some colour into the greyscale world of Westminster. But while he's a passionate advocate for the trade of politics and an adept relayer of what goes on in the corridors of power, he isn't much of a standup comedian. There's barely a handful of his own hand-crafted gags and only one that gets the audience laughing from their bellies.

What he is, though, is an incredible political impressionist of a calibre not far short of Rory Bremner. He perfectly apes George Galloway's Govan growl and Nigel Farage's infuriatingly likeable golf club blokeishness, even more impressive considering that it isn't the main part of his act. Perhaps it should be.

His frequent pleas to see the good in the politcians we don't agree with feel hollow later on, when he rips into Ed Milliband with a nastiness that is at odds with what is meant to be a feelgood show. His laddish Spad insiderishness is perhaps neccessary given his subject matter but it contradicts his argument that politics should be more open to us – and makes it difficult for us to follow his edict that we should be more open to politics.