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Until then, it seemed that no scandal (and there've been plenty) could shift them. This might have happened sooner if Labour wasn't such a shambles as an Opposition.

Also, some Tory backbenchers have had their loyalty tested recently by various legislation that's been passed. It's not reached a pitch where there's been any real significant rebellion, but if enough of them feel that Johnson's becoming a liability and making their prospects in a future general election look dodgy, rumblings may grow. Having a few heads roll is a way of trying to draw a line under the past and refresh what's quite quickly become a transparently threadbare administration.

In real terms, it doesn't really matter who's in the Cabinet - they're all a shower of shiftless, crooked bastards. It's just a matter of degree.