Intriguingly Liam Fox just surfaced on the Today programme. Asked about his resignation, he batted away the question:

“I’m still drawing my own conclusions, I’m still thinking about the events and responses… I’ve rediscovered the benefits of sleep and lunch and I’ve also realised how incredibly pigeon-holed you can get in departmental politics. Every downside has an upside.”

Fox was putting the beers away at last night’s TURC launch, but he made it very clear what he was really on the airwaves to talk about. Free from the constraints of high office, he was able to be far blunter about the Iran situation. Though he called on the Russians to get behind the sanctions, he didn’t sound very convinced of that prospect. Fox left no doubt about the consequences of blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The drum beat is getting louder…