IN A country led by the weak and wobbly, a hulking figure from the past looms larger than ever. “Forward, Together”, the title of Theresa May’s election manifesto, was borrowed from Winston Churchill’s first speech as prime minister in the House of Commons in 1940. Fans of Jeremy Corbyn claim that the crowds at Labour’s rallies were as big as those drawn by the British Bulldog. Liberal Democrats can choose to put a photo of him on their party membership card—never mind that he spent most of his career representing the Conservatives.

Churchill has been invoked on both sides of the Brexit debate. Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary and bestselling biographer of “the greatest statesman this country has produced in the last 200 years, if not ever”, opined that Churchill “would definitely campaign for us to leave”. David Cameron noted that he “argued passionately for western Europe to come together” after the second world war, making him a Remainer. And Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit point-man, stated that Leavers had “squandered Churchill’s legacy”.

This renewed obsession has been reflected in popular culture, too. Recently Churchill has been hobbling across television and film screens more than ever. “Churchill’s Secret”, a made-for-TV film released in February 2016, and “The Crown”, a series which made its debut on Netflix in November 2016, focused on his second term as prime minister, from 1951 to 1955, but used this to consider his former glory and highlight the respect he commanded across the parliamentary divide. The second season of “The Crown”, expected this year, is likely to cover Churchill’s death in 1965, allowing for further reflections on his greatness.

“Churchill”, the latest film, will be released in Britain on June 16th; it follows the prime minister as he clashes with allied military commanders in the lead-up to the D-Day landings. Hagiographic in tone, its script contains such gems as “I just saved the war!”, “You’ll always be the man who led us through this” and “It’s no easy matter being a leader.” Viewers can expect more of the same fare from “Darkest Hour”, a film set in 1940 that is due to be released in January next year.

Churchill will doubtless be evoked throughout the Brexit negotiations. But the effect may be more poignant than stirring. On hearing that the great statesman had died, Charles de Gaulle, his French counterpart, remarked: “Britain is no longer a great power.” As the country begins haggling for a new place in the world, with no steady hand at the rudder, the truth of that remark will become painfully clear.