Third time unlucky for the Conservatives as Philp steps up at PMQs for Team Kemi

This was all about the survivors, said Philp. A decent place to start, given that he and Badenoch had made it all about them up till now

- John Crace

Thoughts and prayers with Alex Burghart. Not so long ago, the shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster was allowed out by Kemi Badenoch to stand in for her at prime minister's questions when Keir Starmer was otherwise engaged. Though this may be a memory Burghart wishes to forget. It wasn't his finest hour. Angela Rayner ran rings round him without even breaking a sweat.

Yesterday Burghart found himself sidelined. Not wanted on voyage. From time to time, he would check his phone for a late call-up. Nothing. He just had to suck it up, take his place on the opposition frontbench and cheer on some other poor sucker. Maybe it was for the best. Some men are born failures. Some achieve failure. Some have failure thrust upon them. Burghart is unique. A combination of all three.