In these circumstances, having Nigel Farage on board to press the British interest, makes sense, however repugnant he is to Number 10. To many Tories, he’s an apostate who has been deeply damaging to their party. He won’t lightly be forgiven. But he is also one of the few Brits with any kind of an entree into Trump’s inner circle. Trump’s suggestion that he be made British ambassador to Washington is plainly ridiculous, but if Farage can assist with a trade deal that works as much for Britain as the US, then why not give him some kind of role?

Dodging pensions relief bullet

Phew! Dodged the bullet again. Throughout much of my adult life, I’ve expected some wicked Chancellor to go the whole hog and remove higher rate tax relief for pensions savings.

But though the scope of the tax break has been steadily eroded by reducing the amounts that can be saved, no one has yet dared to go the whole hog.

Osborne came close last year, but was eventually persuaded it would cause a “riot” on the Tory backbenches and withdrew. On the basis that if you are going to do this kind of stuff, then get it done early, I half expected Hammond to take the plunge in last week’s Autumn Statement, but with a possible election looming if Brexit falters, he too withdrew from the brink.