A word of warning to those looking to topple Boris Johnson

To stand against Boris Johnson might be a grave error – he’s annoyingly difficult to bet against, writes Salma Shah

Liz Truss apparently has donors lined up to support her should she decide to take part in a leadership contest (Olivier Douliery/AP)

For the political understudies in cabinet waiting in the wings to finally get a chance at the leading role, be warned: “The hand that wields the knife will never wear the crown.”

This old proverb and cliche in Westminster circles is used to make ambitious “PMs in waiting” think twice before upending the system. It’s a reference to Michael Heseltine, who resigned from the cabinet and waited years for his chance to challenge Margaret Thatcher in a leadership contest. He won in a sense – he got rid of her – only for John Major to be her replacement. Galling.

The latest set of egos are currently manoeuvering to take advantage of Boris Johnson’s travails. The Sunday newspapers, a favoured receptacle for insider tidbits, were full of insinuations that this cabinet minister or that was in advanced preparations for their tenure at the top. Apparently, Liz Truss has donors lined up to support her. I wonder if her supposed donors have hedged and are also supporting two or three other candidates, too? A tactic that has been cruelly deployed in previous contests.