Voters know who to blame

THERESA May is caught in a trap. If she announces her departure date, then she writes her own death notice.

If, as yesterday, she promises to go on and on, the Tories fear they are destined to be led to defeat at the next election.

This is a predicament entirely of the PM’s own making.

Her fate was sealed when she threw away the Conservative majority at the general election.

The only reason she remains in power is the fear that a leadership challenge could end in an snap poll that would hand power to Jeremy Corbyn.

So we are lumbered with a lame duck Prime Minister without the authority to govern effectively. Voters are likely to resent that when they next vote.