Tearful speech was a warning to Tory rebels

Which bold, bright-eyed Conservative wannabe will Brexit devour next?

would-be successors will have watched her statement, heard the pain in her voice, seen the hurt in her eyes. Did it make them feel not just sympathy, but at least a touch of regret, remorse, shame?

And, if they’re too self-obsessed for that: did it not at least make them ask themselves whether they really want this job? A job that has utterly broken the most resilient person in politics?

Do they not grasp that whoever wins this race will be confronted by precisely the same problems that crushed Mrs May? An EU that refuses to alter the Withdrawal Agreement, a Parliament that will do everything in its power to prevent a no-deal Brexit – and a public who, in the event of a snap election, will likely turf the Tories out before they’ve had a chance to attempt whatever form of Brexit the new leader decides on?

Brexit has already eaten two Conservative prime ministers alive. It devoured David Cameron. Now it’s devoured Theresa May.

Which bold, bright-eyed wannabe will it devour next?