Ruth Davidson was asked in an interview last week to describe the personal attributes required of a British prime minister. “The best leadership qualities, the best vision for the country,” she replied, “the grit, the determination to see it through, and the resilience to take the knocks that come with it”. Wait a minute. Isn’t this a pretty good description of Ms Davidson herself — or at least the flattering picture painted by her aides and admirers? Was this the Scottish Tory leader auditioning for Downing Street?

Her many fanboys among the commentariat would love it to be so. For a growing chunk of the Conservative Party and its hangers-on, the future is Ruth-shaped. With her, they believe, it is finally possible to imagine a