It is not the resignation which Tory backbenchers were keenest to see, but it makes the end of May’s prime ministership even more certain.
She is one of the few Cabinet members who does not give the impression of having had her personality flattened by the sacrifices demanded by a ministerial career.
They are much less divided over whether to do the same to the Brexiteer rebels against the Withdrawal Agreement: definitely not.
Plus: The Chief Whip’s swift transformation from Francis Urquhart to Mr Bean. And: why I can’t bring myself to vote Tory in the local elections.
Though there may have been extenuating circumstances – namely, contradictory instructions from Number Ten and the Whips respectively.
The Cabinet Minister says that he’s not resigning, even though he defied the Whip this evening.
Plus: No, the Trump-Kim Jong Un summit wasn’t altogether a failure. And: Costa should get his old job back.
Also: Welsh Labour slump in latest poll; SNP push Mundell over post-Brexit funding; DUP resist calls for 50/50 police recruitment – and more.
If you’d had to guess which of their MPs would rebel on the deal, Lamont and Ross wouldn’t have made the top six.
Also: Welsh Labour choose their new leader (and First Minister) this afternoon; Scottish Tories attack SNP over tax divergence plans.
It’s the Bored of Brexits versus People against May, as she seeks to snoreathon her way to victory – by persuading MPs that voters have simply had enough.
Also: Jones criticised for shielding ministers from independent scrutiny; and Mundell’s bizarre pop at ‘carpet-bagging’ colleagues.