Alex Massie Alex Massie

Theresa May’s weakness is a virtue

Something rather remarkable happened yesterday: Theresa May had a good day. This counts as news and is itself testament to the miserable time she has endured since she became Prime Minister. Some of this – much of it, in fact – was her own fault. Or at least her own responsibility. If she had called an election in September 2016 it seems likely she would have been rewarded with a handsome majority and, just as usefully, a thumping mandate for her own interpretation of Brexit.

Delaying until June 2017, however, meant she missed her chance. By that stage the moment had passed. The election became another unwanted imposition. Voters, given hefty encouragement by a disastrous Conservative campaign and May’s evident distaste for the fray, rebelled, biffing the government on the nose. From that moment, she was a hobbled prime minister.

And yet, despite it all, she is still there. And Boris Johnson is not. And nor is David Davis. The Daily Telegraph aside, the Tory press is, if not onside, then not in revolt either. Of course there is much countering, much feverish talk of betrayal and the possibility of a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister cannot be discounted. It may happen. But it looks – and this is a reminder of how quickly matters can turn – less likely than it did 24 hours ago.

Things are a little clearer now. You are with the Prime Minister or you are against her. For the time being, a greater portion of the Conservative party is with her than against her. A tipping point has not been reached. If Michael Gove were to resign that pivotal moment might arise but, at the time of writing, that looks unlikely too. Perhaps there will be a steady drip-drip of ministerial resignations that will, over time, make May’s position impossible but, right now, the Davis & Johnson affair seems more of a salutary warning about how to denude yourself of influence than a rallying call to fresh rebellion.

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