British politics has never been more unpredictable. As for the next Election, which could still be three years away, a number of options are possible and only one can be discounted: a Labour recovery under Keir Starmer.
The Assisted Dying Bill is now in limbo. But the Assisted Dying (Starmer) Bill is still very much on the agenda. Angela Rayner is sharpening the dagger.
A few months ago, another outcome seemed equally improbable: a large-scale Tory revival under Kemi Badenoch. Now, things are different. In adversity, Mrs Badenoch has displayed toughness. If she ever does suffer from self-doubt, it may be that she confides it in her husband or her pillow: nothing and nobody else.
Moreover, she has learned to master the Despatch Box in a way that Margaret never managed in her days as Leader of the Opposition. I suspect that all this is earning her increasing public respect, albeit still reluctant. But there might be an unexpected problem. Voters may see the attacking qualities, but what about some gentler political music? Kemi Badenoch ought to display more generosity of spirit, more love of country. This ought not to be difficult, because it is what she feels, and she has expressed it. But there is one problem. In order to make an important point, politicians must learn to repeat themselves - until they are sick of the words. Then, verbal nausea will at last be rewarded. Suddenly, voters will say: 'That's a good point. Why haven't you made it before?' All the politician can do is suppress his wry smile and go on repeating.
There are also more concrete matters. Mrs Badenoch has been reluctant to go into too much detail about her economic policies. She wanted to take time to think everything through: a wise caution. But it is time for some important generalities.
The first is growth. Unless the economy grows, everything else will stagnate with it. The Tories have to deal with that.
One way of doing so is to deal with Ed Miliband. Britain has healthy reserves of fossil fuel. It also has some of the highest energy costs in the advanced world. Competitive energy prices are a vital factor in promoting growth. It is probable that Keir Starmer knows this, but is simply too weak to do anything about it. The Tories have to turn up the heat.
They must also remind everyone that they are the party of aspiration, a crucial element in the Party's traditional domestic appeal. Love of country, growth, aspiration: all are related, and all are vital, as is immigration control. Out of all that, a rhetoric and a programme can be propounded, with conviction. Nigel Farage may try to imitate all that, but it may also be that he is coming across as a cheeky chappie: a bit lightweight. No-one thinks that Kemi Badenoch is lightweight.
She has battles and battlefields ahead of her. Yet she also has one advantage. As Keir Starmer could testify, she likes a scrap.
Apropos battle, the Government seems to be thinking of briefing the public about what to do in the event of a military crisis. Form up under General Stumbler. He would make Captain Mainwaring look like Wellington.
There is one useful service which team Stumbler could perform (apart from resigning). Get the lawyers off the soldiers' backs. Britain probably will avoid a quasi-warlike emergency. But a Government whose lawyers seem determined to undermine the SAS cannot be taken seriously on any military matter.
At the beginning of the Falklands War, thousands of young men walked into recruiting offices. They thought that their country needed them, and were determined to respond to the need. Moving stuff. So what about now? Although their country might need them, our youngsters must be aware that their Government does not respect them. Preparing for warfare? This lot are more interested in the proceeds from lawfare.
We live in a dangerous world. To cope, we have the weakest Prime Minister in history, reinforced by a hopeless Chancellor, an Attorney-General who is a menace, and a demoralised Government machine. Kemi Badenoch does need to display qualities which go beyond toughness. But there are times when the voters will see toughness as a necessity. This is one of them.