Part of the problem is the culture of “chumocracy”. Even ministers who would like to be loyal can feel shut out of the inner sanctum, held ever so subtly at arm’s length by a leader whose polished charm masks a certain distance. So where can Mr Cameron look for support? The list is remarkably short. There’s Jeremy Hunt, who took the bullets during the Leveson Inquiry, and was rewarded with Health. Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, is loyal, even if it’s not always reciprocated. Patrick McLoughlin was on Mr Cameron’s team from the start and will remain there. Maria Miller is probably reliable, not least because she needs all the friends she can get. Theresa Villiers, too, though she may harbour unhelpful thoughts about leaving the European Union.