Backbenchers Rescue May

After she lost her majority, this Blog proclaimed on several occasions that May was toast. By conventional rules of competent government she was and is. A string of mis-judgments since the election disaster and a continued zombie one liners to explain policy which is controversial, increases the feeling that she is, as described by Osborne, a dead woman walking. But the Laurel and Hardy combination of Johnson and Gove, aided by their followers and one or two others fancying leadership ambitions, briefing against May and leaking Cabinet discussions, has reduced the government to a level of dysfunction which is unsustainable.

It has also destroyed the credibility of all the leadership contenders who have overplayed their hands. Neither the party in the country, such as it is, nor the backbenchers are willing to countenance a leadership election, not only because there is no obvious choice following the exposure of Boris as a clown prone to silly one liners who can be reduced to gibbering by any vigorous political commentator, but especially because it is now clear that the choice is May or Corbyn. May could not resign without resigning her government, triggering an invitation from the Queen for Corbyn to form a new one, or forcing a general election, which Labour are favourites to win.

So May is Captain until the ship, holed and taking water, sinks. It might not take long. It has lost its steering, is listing heavily, the pumps are working above capacity, while the crew is disobeying orders and brawling below decks. In its path lies the deadly rock of Brexit.

Wow.