But the Prime Minister also upheld with steely determination “Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law”.
Fifty-three Conservatives opposed the tiering plan last December, the largest Covid-related rebellion to date.
The Chancellor is damned if he yields to backbenchers’ demands for bailouts – and damned if he doesn’t.
Over a third of those who asked a question during a Hancock statement yesterday were to some degree resistant to such shutdowns.
The numbers can be interpreted to suggest that the Bill may not clear Third Reading. But in our view that would be a misreading.
They included seven former Cabinet Ministers, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and the Chairman of the 1922 Executive Committee.
Clarke delivered an attack which recalled Howe’s on Thatcher.
Several Ministers helped to see off the Government’s best hope of avoiding a full-on crisis in the Party – and perhaps of saving Brexit too.
The anger expressed on the Conservative benches reflected the anger felt in many a humble home.
That said, there was more backing for her from her party than some of today’s headlines suggest.
We suspect that they are alarmed by the prospect of the legal and publicity circus that a trial here might well bring with it.
So much of the Government’s strategy is predicated on the belief that this is impossible. But what if that’s wrong?