Oh dear! Cries of woe emanate from Whitehall as officials face another 10 months aboard a becalmed ship of state. “Gordon has lost it and there is confusion because nobody is looking at policy across the piece,” says one senior figure. “The Brown circle is difficult to work with because they are in denial. Most other ministers are thinking about when they should get out, what other jobs they might find if they lose their seats.

“Hardly anyone is concentrating on running the country and the few who do are inexperienced and surprised to find themselves in such senior jobs.” He pauses. Then: “Frankly it’s not hard to see why they are surprised, though civil servants do their best to help them keep their heads above water.”