David Lidington’s new nickname

David Lidington found himself briefly trending on Twitter over the weekend after reports began to circulate that May’s de facto deputy was being talked up as a caretaker prime minister. The idea was that Lidington – a former Europe minister who voted Remain – could step in for May and act as a unifying leader who could reach some form of Brexit consensus in the House of Commons – later standing aside for a full blown leadership contest to take place.

However, owing to the fact that Brexiteers suspected this form of Brexit consensus would involve reaching across the House and pivoting to a soft Brexit, the idea quickly fell flat. Lidington even took the step of using an interview to rule himself out.

However, the incident has done little to ingratiate Lidders to his colleagues. Mr S understands a new nickname for Lidington is doing the rounds among Tory MPs: ‘Chancellor of the Duchy of Luxembourg’.