This government has a growing stench of death around it that even a sudden economic recovery would do little to shift.
Pumping yet more money without reform into failing organisations is likely to continue to disappoint.
As his options narrow, Sunak has little choice but to get back to first principles, which would be the right course anyway.
Voters clearly want it – and the recent past suggests he’s a more credible agent of it than Sir Keir.
In his Parliament of Whores, PJ O’Rourke gave one section the stirring title “Our Government: What The F*** Do They Do All Day And Why Does It Cost So Goddamned Much Money?” But as my research confirmed in various ways, most voters do not see government primarily as an expensive nuisance.
At the moment the Government takes the blame as the ultimate boss, whilst lacking many of the powers to put things right owing to the doctrine of independence.
His measured communications approach is superior to Boris Johnson and Liz Truss’s tendency towards needless provocation without any commitment to structural reform. But that reform must happen, regardless of how unpopular it may be.
The new strategy must mandate that all public servants who interact with the public receive suicide prevention training.
It is not a coincidence that the only bits of England he omits from his coalition of “progressive values” are those that are net contributors to the Exchequer.
We kick off a ConservativeHome project on strong families, better schools and good jobs today – indispensable means of achieving a smaller state and a stronger society.
A modest (if growing) list of technocratic interventions will not be enough for the electorate, no matter how good they are in their own terms.
Littering, fare-dodging, and shoplifting are minor offenses, but they undermine people’s sense of living in a safe, well-ordered public square.
Like Margaret Thatcher giving in to the miners in 1981, a tactical withdrawal now could be a springboard to future victory.
The British people require action. It is clear that Conservative members genuinely wish to reduce net immigration. Doing so will achieve a net reduction in population. Not all wish to see this occur. But I do.