Westminster is yet again the focal point of the national conversation, as it seemingly has been for the last seven years. We’ve had Brexit turmoil, two general elections, a global pandemic and now a third prime minister ousted.
Throughout, I’ve been lucky enough to have a front row seat, filing news, analysis and the occasional column from the House of Commons press gallery for news agencies and newspapers. Whether political plotting and party mutinies, late night votes or dramatic Downing Street resignations — it has been a ride to rival any TV box set. And Boris Johnson's resignation feels rather like the finale of this particular season.
There have been so many jaw-dropping moments over the last eight months, whether Wallpapergate, Partygate, the Owen Paterson affair, the defection of Bury South MP Christian Wakeford to Labour or the dramatic Tory by-election losses in Wakefield and Devon. But throughout, there was never a feeling that this was the moment to end Johnson's career - even if many Tory MPs privately wanted to see it. With the Prime Minister's success in the confidence vote, his place looked assured - so much so, he was even talking about serving a third term.
