2018 was a year of rubbish resignations

“Never resign! Wait until you’re fired!” was Winston Churchill’s advice to political colleagues. Unfortunately for today’s frontbenchers looking for a way out, Theresa May has been in no position to sack anyone – no wonder, then, that so many have found themselves making their own way to the door.

If nothing else, 2018 will be remembered for giving us a record number of government resignations, with a staggering 17 departures throughout the year (nearly three times the previous year). Of course there’s no surprise for guessing what triggered most of them – but even then, it’s surprising how little impact these Brexit resignations have had. Could it be that British politicians have forgotten how to resign well?

The worst offenders have to be the four Brexiteers – David Davis, Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Esther McVey – all of whom left the cabinet without winning any serious concessions in the process.

Davis and Johnson were the first to go, quitting in the wake of the long-awaited Chequers summit.