Cabinet ministers verge between despair, depression and anger. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, echoed Streeting’s comments that there was a toxic culture in No 10. “What was displayed earlier on in the week was horrible, toxic and deeply embarrassing,” she said. “The behaviour was appalling and roundly and fairly and legitimately condemned by pretty much everyone.” Another secretary of state described being “frustrated by it all” and said the briefing “looks like an attempt to smoke Wes out that blew up”.
