After his re-election the Tees Valley mayor said to Sunak: “I could not have delivered the things we’ve delivered in this region without you, Prime Minister.” Downing Street’s saving grace has changed his tune now…

Houchen this morning has told local radio that the Tories are “fighting each other like rats in a sack” and the blame for the party’s issues “ultimately lies with Rishi“:

“If the government actually got on and delivered some real things and showed themselves to be competent, and did the things that people wanted them to, then there is a way through to be able to get some of that respect back, some of that confidence back from the public and to help reduce what is a very large gap at the minute… Ultimately it always rests on the shoulders of the leader, all responsibility goes back to the top, it’s the same in my job as well. Ultimately, you’re the one responsible for it.“

Sunak is running out of corners to back into…