ON WEDNESDAY it was five full days since Theresa May stepped down as leader of the Conservative Party.

It was a departure we had called for in this column many times, and we maintain it was the right thing for her to go, albeit many months after it became clear she was personally part of the Brexit impasse.

The early signs – and it is still very, very early – are not encouraging for any kind of breakthrough.

Boris Johnson, frontrunner to be Mrs May’s replacement, launched his bid for the Tory crown with a warning to MPs they will “reap the whirlwind” if they try to thwart Brexit.

Labour said it would continue to fight to prevent leaving the EU with no deal after a cross-party motion which would have enabled MPs to take control of the business of the House of Commons on June 25 was defeated by 309 to 298 – a majority of 11.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced Mr Johnson is yesterday’s news. And if that wasn’t enough excitement for one day of this political rollercoaster ride we find ourselves strapped into, Chancellor Philip Hammond said that it would actually be “impossible” to leave by the new deadline of October 31 as the EU would not re-negotiate the existing deal and Parliament would not allow it.

So far there is very little sign of any type of coherent vision emerging from this leadership election, and even less of the Commons agreeing on a way forward. The only thing we can say with any certainty, is that Mrs May will be glad to be out of it all.