Very Funny PM... But Seriously, Now Deliver

In the brutal assessment of one commentator: “If optimism and humour could heat our homes we’d be fine, but actually they don’t.” And he was right. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s speech to his party’s faithful in Manchester last week at times resembled an open-mic night at your local comedy club – but you have to wonder if he was aware that many up and down the country are not in the mood for laughing just now.

- Nick Ferrari

No one needs reminding that what are called “optics” in politics are key.

And being seen to be blasé about strife and crisis – or blandly dismissing it – can be akin to treading on a landmine.

If in any doubt, study what happened to tone-deaf former Labour prime minister Jim Callaghan when he comprehensively failed to grasp the impact of the Winter of Discontent crisis in 1978.