The story so far. On Tuesday night, someone in No 10 began briefing lobby correspondents at multiple outlets that the Prime Minister’s allies stood ready to defend him from an imminent leadership challenge from Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

As many as 50 frontbenchers were preparing to quit if the Budget, in two weeks’ time, goes badly, they said. Many things about this are astonishing, I agree.

If there is a challenge brewing, of course, it’s one that nobody previously even knew was happening. I am not a professional political advisor, but I’d have thought that headlines suggesting the Prime Minister is fighting for his job were probably, in such circles, seen as a bad result. Someone in No 10 has lost their mind.

Someone faring rather better, though, is the Health Secretary himsel

See Full Page