Leadsom marches on, a convenient step clear of the latest chaos to bedevil the Commons

In the Commons, MPS were paying tribute to Andrea Leadsom, who had resigned as Leader of the House the night before. Some hailed her passion and dedication; others recalled her introduction of proxy voting, and her efforts to tackle bullying.

Disappointingly, however, no one cited the most memorable moment of her career to date: the day during the 2016 Tory leadership contest when MPS – actual MPS – marched on Parliament, chanting, “What do we want? LEADSOM FOR LEADER! When do we want it? NOW!”

One MP who didn’t join Mrs Leadsom’s march, incidentally, was Mrs Leadsom herself. As everyone else set off, she hopped into the back of a car, to be driven to Parliament instead.

Yesterday, Mrs Leadsom had been due to make a statement to the

Commons, announcing the schedule of forthcoming debates. Now that she’d quit, her place at the Dispatch Box was taken by Mark Spencer (Con, Sherwood), a burly bruiser of a government whip. MPS waited to hear what date they’d be voting on Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill.

They never found out. First, Mr Spencer announced that the Bill’s publication was being delayed, for unspecified reasons. As for the date of the vote, there wasn’t one. It was meant to have been during the first week of June, but it was mysteriously missing from the list. All he could say was that the House would be “updated” on its return from recess.

MPS sounded puzzled. What was going on? When was this crucial Brexit vote happening? Mr Spencer mumbled something about Friday June 7, which confused MPS even more, because moments earlier he’d told them that on June 7 the Commons wouldn’t sit at all. Then again, maybe that’s the plan: hold the vote on a day when no MPS are present.

(“Congratulations, Prime Minister! Not a single MP voted against your Bill! Admittedly not a single MP voted in favour of it either, but it’s definitely progress!”)

No clarification was forthcoming. “Will we be having the debate, or not?” called out Chris Bryant (Lab, Rhondda). Mr Spencer didn’t reply. Not that you could blame him. He could hardly have said, for example, “Look, we haven’t got a date for the vote, because there might not be a vote, for the simple reason that the PM will very soon be out on her ear.”

In the circumstances, vagueness was the only practical course.

Sadly, Mr Spencer’s term as acting Leader of the House was short-lived. Not long after he’d finished speaking, Mel Stride, a minister from the Treasury, was appointed as Mrs Leadsom’s successor. Great name, Mel Stride.

Sounds like an Eighties football agent who smokes cigars the size of truncheons and has just arranged for Chelsea’s star striker to record a duet with Jive Bunny.

Mrs Leadsom’s plans remain unknown. Fingers crossed she’s plotting the route for her next march.