A rotten culture extends so deeply into many institutions that they are now beyond salvation.
Otherwise, most scores are much the same as last month, with many of them down even from its woeful levels.
Only 17 members of the Cabinet are above a lowly ten points. Sunak falls to his lowest negative rating yet. Badenoch continues to lead the rankings.
Cleverly drops from first in the table to near bottom, Badenoch goes top, Mordaunt is second, Hunt is still in negative ratings…as, on his return to the table, is Cameron.
The Foreign Secretary has been a visible media and online presence since Hamas attacked Israel – and, like Ben Wallace during the Ukraine war, sees his place and rating rise.
Badenoch is top for the second month running, but scores are paltry almost all the way round, and in no way a springboard for the Manchester conference.
At just over 700 replies, the low response rate reflects not only the summer season but diminished expectations. This is a bleak return for the Government as Parliament resumes.
My explanation? The Uxbridge & South Ruislip by-election result – and the Prime Minister’s tilt from green politics to red – or rather blue – meat.
Sunak’s rating is still lamentable and Hunt remains in negative ratings, but Sturgeon’s fall and Zelensky’s visit made last month’s political background less unfavourable.
So does Raab. Our top three are unchanged – and Alister Jack’s rating is up slightly, taking him to sixth place.
The Defence Secretary stays top, and he, Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly remain the only three Cabinet members to score above 50 points in both November’s and this Christmas survey.
Wallace is top again. Badenoch and Cleverly score well. Sunak wins a respectable rating. And Williamson is in negative territory.
The first of our mini-series on the road to Brexit recalls the watershed moment when the idea entered the political mainstream.
Plus: The landslide that few dared to predict. How I once tried to become Monmouth’s MP. And: Happy Christmas to all my readers
The two most likely candidates are both Welsh-speaking Brexiteers – but hail from different parts of the principality and differ on devolution.
A rotten culture extends so deeply into many institutions that they are now beyond salvation.