A tough day but Mrs May is still in charge

IF yesterday’s reshuffle showed us anything, it was Theresa May’s determination to put the disasters and disappointments of 2017 behind her and move her party into the new year with a fresh sense of purpose.

It was never going to be an easy day. Her authority weakened by losing her majority, Mrs May had to revitalise her team more by persuasion and cajoling than by cold command. But although all her biggest beasts remained in post, there were crucial changes.

Her complete overhaul of the internal Tory machine was a recognition that grass-roots Conservatism is in crisis.

Membership is plummeting and many constituency associations are all but moribund. While Labour has successfully courted a new generation of voters – not least by manipulating social media – the Tories are manifestly failing to get their message across. If they are to compete in the next election, this must change.

There were also important indications of Mrs May’s ambitious policy platform beyond Brexit. By expanding Jeremy Hunt’s health brief to encompass social care, she showed she has not given up on creating a system where elderly people don’t clog up muchneeded hospital beds simply because there’s nowhere else for them to go.

It’s a problem in Scotland too – despite lacklustre Health Secretary Shona Robison’s promise to act.

And the removal of lacklustre Justine Greening from education signalled a renewed initiative to drive up school standards. (Nicola Sturgeon take note).

Miss Greening’s refusal to accept a move made her the day’s most high-profile resignation and she may now join the ranks of rebellious ex-ministers on the back benches. But she’s no great loss to the Cabinet. So for all the hubristic boasts of Jeremy Corbyn that she would be out by Christmas, Mrs May not only remains in Downing Street but is looking more confident by the day.

She may not yet be exactly ‘strong and stable’. But this reshuffle shows she’s determined to get on with the job of governing Britain.