Yesterday was a revolution in which, after a great deal of tumult, politics turned back to where it began. The prime minister survived a vote of no confidence, though with a significant uprising against her, mainly because so many of her colleagues feared that the alternatives were even worse. To facilitate a harder departure from the European Union, stewarded by either Boris Johnson, David Davis or Dominic Raab, was an unappealing option. They chose instead to play safe and soldier on, though in what direction they are moving is not clear.

Indeed, the government does not appear to be moving at all. Theresa May has been on a rapid odyssey through Europe in the vain hope of gaining concessions on the withdrawal agreement she