Cue coup

The government still refuses to publish its assessments of the effect Brexit will have on the UK, even though parliament has bound it to publish them.

The new excuse is that they are not ready to publish because they need to be censored. The Tory MP - and former minister - Ms Soubry noted this delay was a "gross contempt" of parliament. However, anyone at all familiar with Mrs May's approach to Brexit will hardly be surprised - the real shock is that she has agreed to publish anything. We still have no idea what Mrs May plans are for the UK post-Brexit, or even what her 'red lines' are in the negotiations.

Partly, of course, this is because whenever Mrs May makes a promise on policy you can guarantee that she will renege on it - possibly within a few hours, so she may not even know herself where we are headed.

So it is no wonder that rebellion is once again in the ranks. Mr Shapps's previous attempted coup failed, but he is once again collecting names. The real question is not whether Mrs May will go but when, and who will replace her. The argument for keeping her was essentially that she was a compromise candidate, a Remainer who decided to accept Brexit. With the widening rifts at the top of the Tory party she at least could be claimed by both sides. Another issue was that removing her would mean another leadership contest, paralysing the government and further splitting the Tories.

So far she hasn't manage to unify senior ministers, and recent events may make a leadership contest moot. Ministers have been falling like ninepins, most recently due to the Sexminster scandal. Mr Johnson is clinging on to his post but has provided overwhelming evidence of his unfitness for the PM's job. Ms Davidson (the leader of the Scottish party) will not be able to run. That leaves a very small field.

Ms Rudd seems to be the one to watch. She is home secretary, as Mrs May was, and so is one of only five women to ever hold one of the 'Great Offices of State'. She campaigned for Remain but is strongly against immigration, again echoing Mrs May. So she has experience in high office, she appeals to the anti-immigration Leavers, and she has good links with the Tory Remainers.

Whoever replaces Mrs May will need to retake control of Brexit and of the cabinet, communicate a clear vision of what we are aiming for in the negotiations and for the future, and commit to promises and stick to them when the going gets tough. Not easy - do we have anyone who can do it?