Puppet forced to gorge on humble pie

THERE can be no greater symbol of Theresa May’s collapsing authority than the sight of Michael Gove strolling into Downing Street last night.

It will have stuck badly in her craw to revive the career of the man she despised above all others during her six years as Home Secretary.

They clashed repeatedly during their time together in Cabinet and she relished sending him to the backbenches last summer – telling him to learn a thing or two about loyalty after his backstabbing of Boris Johnson.

But last night it was Mrs May eating humble pie as she was ordered by

Brexiteers to find a place for their pal at her top table. And it did not stop there... The appointment of Mr Gove as Environment Secretary was just one in a long line of humiliating concessions Mrs May made to avoid being toppled by her party.

Her most trusted advisers have been fired; a new role of Deputy PM created to give angry Ministers an easier channel into Number 10.

Mrs May is now the puppet PM, made to dance by a party too scared to let her fall to the floor. But it will not last. Every day she remains in No10, the damage to the party will grow.

All the while Jeremy Corbyn stands in the wings, emboldened, awaiting his chance to strike.