In one respect at least, Gordon Brown’s premiership has proved a resounding success. As British political theatre it has been the most gripping narrative of recent times. The “how did it all go wrong?” retrospectives – now including a dismal fifth place in this week’s Henley by-election – have illuminated Mr Brown’s first year as prime minister in pitiless detail. The harder question is “can it be put right?”.

Mr Brown has undoubted abilities, including an intellectual grasp of the forces shaping the global economy. Yet he has failed to demonstrate the basic political skills needed to be prime minister. He spent too long without a proper grip on the Downing Street machine and was unable to project an easy and attractive persona.