At PMQs, Liz Truss announced “I’m a fighter, not a quitter”. By that evening, she was discussing her resignation with her husband.
Over and above his future hangs a bigger question – namely, whether holding Ministers properly to account is the same thing as pile-ons by the media pack.
“He was expressing frustration but he regrets doing so,” adds the Cabinet Office Minister. “It was a difficult time for the Party.”
I was a Conservative MP for the best part of ten years, and have been a political journalist for the better part of 20. But as the old song about the Pushmepullyou has it, I’ve “never seen anything like it in my life”.
Wallace is top again – with Cleverly, Badenoch, Braverman, Rees-Mogg and Mordaunt above 50 points. There’s a tentative air about this table, as the panel feels its way with the new regime.
Unity of purpose requires debate, compromise and ultimately putting collective interest above self- interest.
Success in politics is about delivering the goods. This should provide encouragement to the local associations who fared less well last week.
All but one of the current team has been appointed since May became Prime Minister. What institutional memory are they supposed to draw on?
There’s one undeniable trend among those promoted: they backed the winning candidate.
What does their selection reveal about the Government’s priorities? And why are some other rising stars missing?
On the surface, this intake looks different from those that have preceded it – and is in some respects. But beneath it, this is in many ways a very traditional Tory group.