This week, Theresa May’s cabinet became even more brittle with the loss of the one time ship steadier Michael Fallon. However, this week also heralded half of cabinet members being from the 2010 intake with the likes of Gavin Williamson, Priti Patel and Amber Rudd.
While this may show the old grey image of the Tories slowly evaporating, what’s the image like in the Labour Party? Well the average age of Corbyn and McDonnell is 67 just above May and Hammond’s 61. The likes of Emily Thornberry and Diane Abbott hardly bring down the age of the bench.
Around the time of Milliband, we had the youngish faces of the Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Ed Balls. These names have all but disappeared to a mayorship, a select committee chair and the Strictly dance floor. Now, however, what are the fates of the intrepid and outspoken backbenchers like Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Stella Creasy. In any past Labour top team, these would be the shining stars being beamed out to the electorate – instead we have Emily Thornberryand Diane Abbott dominating the media waves with the Northern voices of Rebecca Long-Bailey and Angela Raynor sometimes having their moments of fame.
I’m not denying that the Tories don’t too have an age problem. I suppose there’s hope that whenever May finally succumbs, a youthful face will appear. No I’m not talking of the Moggmentum. How long will it take for Ruth Davidson to fly down and save the Tories from impending, crippling doom?