It ought to be impossible for the Tories to win the next election. So much has gone against them. On the economy, the government has plenty of excuses, but there is a point when a lot of voters just become fed up. “Time for a change” is the most potent weapon in electoral politics. At some stage, it does seem tempting to give the other lot a chance, especially in view of recent political events. A generation ago, at the Whitehall theatre, Brian Rix would put on farces. During the last few years, the farces moved to the Westminster theatre, with prime ministers taking the lead role.