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%.

Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the government’s 10-year plan for the NHS, saying the “future already looks better” for the beleaguered service. The prime minister set out proposals on Thursday which he said would bring care much closer to people’s homes, reducing the reliance on hospitals and on A&E.

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.