Politics On the Edge

Sasha, now five, and Ivo, two, spend a lot of time on the trampoline. I injure my ankle trying to avoid the strokes of a plastic sword. I persuade the boys to plant some oaks, and they watch me ramming fence posts into the ground and stringing them with barbed wire. Sasha writes a long story about a red car. I plant an irregular sequence of yews, which the deer eat. I read about the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, and The Tale of Genji, which makes me think about those Japanese councillors who retire from the court, to make gardens and prepare tea.

Matt announced his decision in The Times. He said: ‘I have reflected on what is needed in the national interest, and how the approaches of the candidates fit with my values. Having considered all the options, I’m backing Boris Johnson as the best candidate to unite the Conservative Party, so we can deliver Brexit and then unite the country.’

Characteristically, he was also intrigued by the fact that my distant ancestor was an MP called Richard Rich, the villain of A Man for All Seasons, who had betrayed Thomas More in exchange for promotion to become Attorney General for Wales and ultimately Lord Chancellor. Robert liked to quote More’s comment: ‘Why Richard,’ he took to saying to me, ‘it profit a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world . . . but for Wales???’

But on 11 June, two days before the first ballot, he co-wrote a piece in Conservative Home, ‘We are looking for a prime minister . . . who will be realistic and honest . . . and who will be able to unite the nation behind any deal that is done. We believe that person is Boris Johnson.’ Boris Johnson had it seemed promised him the post of Lord Chancellor