David Davis’ statement also had a whiff of Jonathan Aitken about it, when he resigned his government post to carry wield his trusty sword of truth.

It is not clear if David Davis is a nutter or that it is his vanity that contributed to today’s impulsive behaviour. Neither of these traits is appropriate for someone who could have been Home Secretary one day.

Today David Cameron had won a get out of jail free card. The Tories used to pride themselves on being the party of law and order. Yesterday on the Today programme David Davis was going solo with party policy committing a future Conservative government to rescinding 42 days.

On David Davis’ watch the Conservatives have gone soft on terrorism. In seeking to gain short term political capital by opposing the government they have also taken a stand against the British people who are largely in favour of the government’s anti-terror proposals.

Little should be made of the appointment of Dominic Grieve. David Cameron had to make a quick replacement without getting bogged down by a full shadow cabinet reshuffle. By the time of the election David Cameron will have appointed someone more in tune with the public mood.

David Cameron will go to sleep a contented man tonight, that troublesome “What are we going to do about David Davis?” problem is no more.

The details of the Northern Rock are perhaps not of great interest to the wider public; however I would hope that people recognise that the government is trying to do something to safeguard the future of the bank. Gordon Brown was quite right to point out the lack of any alternative plan from the Tories.

David Cameron’s jokes were rather lame. The fact that he persisted in trotting them out rather than suggest any alternative for the bank only underlines his reputation for vacuousness. Jolly japes are fine from the stand-in leader of a minor party; one expects a bit more substance from someone who aspires to lead our country. The more personal and spiteful Cameron becomes, the more he resembles a public schoolboy bully. Hardly a vote winner in the long term.