Tory Hopes In Ruins An Economic Revival Won't Save Sunak Now

Tory MPs have been busy this past week and probably not found the time to watch Shardlake, the adaptation of CJ Sansom's book set during the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s, but once the dust has settled from last week's elections they might want to take a look.

- Larry Elliott

This was a turbulent period. Having forced through his own version of Brexit through the break with Rome, Henry VIII then in effect nationalised the assets of religious houses dotted around England, Wales and Ireland. It was a seminal moment in the development of British capitalism and the nation-state.

But what should alarm Rishi Sunak is the speed with which the monasteries went from being a mighty presence in the land to extinction. A process that began in 1536 was pretty much over by 1540.

Something similar could be happening to the Conservative party. The Tories won an 80-seat majority at the 2019 general election. On the basis of last week's evidence from local elections they will do well to avoid a complete wipeout next time round. Andy Street's defeat in the West Midlands mayoral race showed how bad things are for the prime minister.