The cost-of-living crisis requires similarly calm leadership. With the clear and present danger of stagflation, we need to revisit the support we give. It is time to look again at the imposition of the National Insurance rise, which is hitting both workers and employers hard. We should also do our best to negate environmental and renewable levies, which make up as much as a quarter of household energy bills.

The sheer scale and urgency of these issues place a premium on leadership, which is why I say to my colleagues that, notwithstanding their reflective feelings towards yesterday’s fines, this country’s leadership must be allowed to get on with the job. We cannot produce a vacuum in Westminster or get bogged down in a party political spitting match, for that would only benefit our totalitarian enemies. 

Yes, what happened in Downing Street was and is unforgivable and those who were involved must continue to take full responsibility and show contrition. However, the plight of those suffering in Ukraine and our response, must now be above all else.