The Scottish Secretary, understated in his public utterances, “often makes the wittiest interjections in Cabinet discussions”.
Policy drift following the collapse of the Union Unit shows the danger of Downing Street losing its grip on a process.
He was running against Olivia Seccombe, from the National Farmers’ Union, and Nikki da Costa, Downing Street’s Director of Legislative Affairs.
Whilst his ministerial reshuffle has been making the headlines, the Prime Minister’s back-office appointments may be just as important to the fate of his government.
The whole plan involves maintaining a public-facing theatre of constitutional normalcy which will only further impede scrutiny and accountability.