But there were a couple of moments of levity – though both men agreed that this is no time for it.
Given last December’s election result, this news will not necessarily dismay Conservative activists and voters.
Whether moderate right Conservative, or moderate left, austerity is dead, and this new age will be with us for a long time to come.
“I’m proud of the economic agenda we put forward”.
One can conceive of Ministers seeking an all-party public front, and Labour objecting to responsibility with no power.
To the astonishment of those who see him as an incorrigible buffoon, the Prime Minister looked and sounded unremittingly sombre.
One of the most dangerous sequences in politics goes like this. “Something must be done. Here’s something. Let’s do it.”
Corbyn refused to pull together.
Bury, the West Midlands, Dudley and perhaps the Durham PCC polls are well worth keeping an eye on.
The start of a weekly series on this site each Monday previewing the local elections being held on May 7th.
Javid’s resignation statement contained jokes but also warnings. “I’m a low-tax Conservative,” he said, and the Treasury “is the only tax-cutting ministry”.
“COBRA is a reference to Cabinet Office Briefing Room A – it is not the only room in which meetings can take place, Mr Speaker!”
After crushing Labour last year, it might be tempting to rest on our laurels. But we need to act now to keep the extreme left locked out of Number 10.
The author of the final piece in our mini-series identifies corporation tax, stamp duty, national insurance and investment allowances as targets for action.