WARNING: BUMPY YEAR AHEAD

A FASCINATING new phrase has entered the political lexicon: ‘multiple dissolutions’.

Coined by the constitutional sage Lord (Peter) Hennessy, Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary University of London, he predicts a year of political earthquakes. These include Theresa May stepping down as PM; a new Tory government; a third General Election in four years; possibly Jeremy Corbyn in No. 10; pressure for Scottish independence; and ‘the dissolution of the UK as we know it.’

His views, in Catholic weekly The Tablet, are enough to make us Westminster hacks have an extra slurp of Communion wine.