Never has a politician’s lectern been more symbolic. As Liz Truss stood outside Downing Street to give her resignation speech, all eyes were on the bizarre wooden structure that stood before her – seemingly made from Jenga blocks, ready to take a tumble. With the pieces artfully arranged in a downward spiral, it was the perfect metaphor for her turbulent six-week premiership and sudden, comical collapse.
It was the fourth such personalised prime ministerial lectern in six years, after an apparent Conservative party mandate that each new leader must come with their own matching podium, like an action figure with coordinating accessory. Each new item of furniture would be symbolic of a supposedly fresh new regime – and turn out to be prophetically revealing of each prime minister’s character.
