Government is an exercise in persistence. Putting that into practise means dedicating oneself to shaking off setbacks, rather than getting bogged down in them, and in seeking opportunities in bad news where possible.

The resignation of Angela Rayner is such a moment. Sir Keir Starmer would never have chosen to lose such a prominent minister, or to do so in such embarrassing circumstances.

It’s happened, and there’s no point in Downing Street dwelling on the loss of one of their best-known and most driven frontbenchers, nor on the public anger about hypocrisy which will inevitably stick to the Government. Instead, they should look for any upsides her departure presents.

The first opportunity was in the reshuffle – either by letting go ministers who weren’t up to snuff, or taking the chance to bolster the top table. Done well, with a clear strategy and a message to land with the electorate, it offered hope of a reset.

Bluntly, that hasn’t happened. The main benefit reaped by the Prime Minister was the disruption of Nigel Farage’s big conference moment, but that’s about it. I doubt many voters this weekend read the newspaper and........

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