Theresa May’s attack on Johnson shows there’s nothing as ‘ex’ as a former prime minister

The May years seem strong and stable by comparison with today, writes Sean O’Grady

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Theresa May in the Commons (UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA Media)

There is nothing as “ex” as an ex-prime minister.

Deprived of office and power, ridiculed loudly by the opposition, and more quietly by their successor, looking to save their reputation with a memoir or two, and generally a bit lost with no staff or much of a platform, they sometimes strike an embittered, shrunken, lonely figure.

Things aren’t always helped by their attempts to raise money either for themselves or their pet charities and foundations, (see T Blair and D Cameron). On occasion, they find one outlet for their frustrations in applying a beady eye and a sharp tongue to the activities of their successor – especially if that successor is someone from their own party and was instrumental in removing them.