Cynicism has no place in pregnancy announcements – but Downing Street has opened the door to it

The timing is interesting, given the other major events the prime minister is having to deal with, writes Matthew Norman

News of the happy couple dwarfed other stories on the front pages (Getty)

Which of the two possible future vacancies unofficially announced on Saturday – one for a home secretary; the other for a prime ministerial mistress – qualified as more significant? That is the ultimately cynical way to look at things, and it turns out it involves subjective news judgement.

The link between the timing of these revelations was starkly obvious. The politico-journalistic community had an inkling of Carrie Symonds’ pregnancy and the possibility of an engagement weeks or months ago.

Whether the omerta would have extended to Jeremy Corbyn, Keir Starmer or anyone else outside the Boris Johnson Brexit bubble seems unlikely.