PM is safe in her job for now

threatening to turn into a far more forensic inquisitor than the waffling Labour chief. Yet the fact that Mrs May is under bombardment from both sides of her party suggests a genuine challenge to her leadership rather than the current bluff is still unlikely to emerge this side of Britain’s scheduled exit from the EU next March.

The political dynamic that sustained Mrs May in office in spite of last year’s general election flop still applies. Remainers and Brexiteers cannot be certain of propelling one of their own to the top if the Prime Minister is ousted. Tory insiders speculate that the likely frontrunners if a contest were held this year would be Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Amber Rudd and Jeremy Hunt.

Shifting alliances between the rival clans make it hard to predict which pair would win through to the final ballot of grassroots party members. It is possible the Tory faithful might end up having to choose between two Remainers or two Brexiteers. A new leader who repelled either wing of the party would leave the Tories as divided and dysfunctional as ever.

On her tour in China Mrs May repeatedly declined to even acknowledge the mischief-making in her party ranks. She radiated determination to get on with the job of promoting Global Britain overseas. And while her critics may be turning up the volume, they must know that triggering a contest imminently would be a desperate gamble for the party.

Mrs May has little hope of harmony and stability breaking out in her party any time soon. Instead, fear about what might come next should be enough to allow her to keep getting on with the job for some time yet.