By our own metrics, the government is not thriving. Waiting times at emergency ( A&E) wards may be falling, but at a glacial pace. The number of migrants crossing in small boats has risen by 38% over the past year. Housebuilding is moribund and crime incidents, although relatively low, have increased by 10%.

But the parallel is this: a government transparently not in control of events, shoved around humiliatingly by parliament. The astonishing thing about this row is Sir Keir Starmer has a mandate and a majority.