For a Prime Minister who had just gone down to the largest and most momentous parliamentary defeat in British history, Theresa May last night looked strangely calm and relaxed.
She was on her feet at the despatch box the moment the shattering news was delivered. Very brave and composed. Good for her.
Here was a very proud woman who had just suffered the total and utter destruction of everything she has fought for over the past two years.
For a Prime Minister who had just gone down to the largest and most momentous parliamentary defeat in British history, Theresa May last night looked strangely calm and relaxed
Many people would have bent over in pain and despair – and been forgiven for it. Lesser politicians would have given up months ago.
Say what you will about the Prime Minister, there is no questioning her tenacity, courage or guts.
But where now? According to most laws of politics, Mrs May should go. She cannot command a majority in the House of Commons on the flagship policy of her government.
Only three times in the past 100 years has a government endured a defeat of more than 100 votes. Mrs May lost by more than twice that – 230 votes.
And yet she spoke last night as if she intends to go on. Heroic, yes. Magnificent, certainly. Brave, beyond doubt.
Some will say she is doomed and her position is hopeless. One possibility is that Cabinet colleagues will mobilise against her overnight. That’s how Margaret Thatcher was forced out in 1990.
Her chief Cabinet ally, Chancellor Philip Hammond, made a pre-emptive bid to stop that at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. He said: ‘Whatever happens tonight, Prime Minister, you must not resign under any circumstances.’
The rest of the Cabinet loyally banged the table in support. That was, however, before they knew the shocking scale of the Commons defeat that awaited her.
Many people would have bent over in pain and despair – and been forgiven for it. Lesser politicians would have given up months ago. Say what you will about the Prime Minister, there is no questioning her tenacity, courage or guts
For the time being she will stay and fight this afternoon’s confidence vote called by Labour – and she may well win it. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn got the tone completely wrong in his victory speech last night.
Tory MPs, however disillusioned they are by Mrs May, will have been horrified by its crowing nature. He should have spoken in sorrow rather than anger. Instead, he spoke like a man who smells the chance of Downing Street.
If Tory MPs do rally round Mrs May as they did in the confidence motion last December. Which means that the Prime Minister can cling on. But cling on to what?
Not as walking wounded. If she survives at all, she risks resembling a political corpse. She will need to be propped up by others. And it will take more than the unimpressive Mr Hammond to save her.
But let’s turn our attention from Mrs May. Because last night was a momentous event, not just in the history of politics but in the history of our country. In many ways the fate of the Prime Minister is the least important question.
