The Prime Minister is in full command of the facts, but has no idea how to raise morale among his despondent backbenchers.
His victory in the Dutch elections was only possible because the mainstream parties had failed to control the country’s borders.
The Chancellor, who was watched by his wife and children, indicated that he will take no risks.
The Prime Minister looked relieved to have appointed a Home Secretary who is not furious with him.
Gove, Cummings and the Federation of Conservative Students are also denounced for destroying her hero.
The Development Minister put on a therapy class for Opposition MPs which included laughing at the Home Secretary.
The State Opening of Parliament went off immaculately, but the debate which followed sounded staged too.
Badenoch called for more risk and less intervention, and described how the tide was turned against Stonewall.
His critics think he is “a busted flush”: how eager he will be to demonstrate that he is, on the contrary, serious.
Starmer looked and sounded triumphant as he welcomed Labour’s two by-election victors.
The horrors in Israel and Gaza compelled solemnity and unity for only part of the time: free debate survives.
But the Prime Minister also upheld with steely determination “Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law”.
The National Trust’s hierarchy prates about democracy but is convinced that it knows best. Its recent elections were conducted under curious rules which favour incumbents.