Mad dogs and Englishmen

A summer of political manoeuvring has ratcheted up research fears.

Welcome back, those who took a break over the summer. Mad dogs and Englishmen have been unfettered by the traditional August lull: we now have the prospect of a prime minister about to suspend parliament, dramatically cutting the opportunity for MPs to block a no-deal Brexit, and an emergency spending round likely to serve showmanship more than stability.

The return of Jo Johnson as universities and science minister in his brother Boris’s government is the one development that has been tentatively welcomed, due to his sector knowledge. But even this is overshadowed by suspicion of his willingness to serve in a government hurtling towards the no-deal Brexit he previously opposed.