A woundedness always haunts governments that are losing the contest for the popular vote. Hence the kybosh of current political leadership. A sense of unbelievability descends. Ministers who formerly could bat off the most difficult of interrogations fold once the governmental show to be empty of vitality.
Gordon Brown swept into office having seen off all threats to his assuming the leadership of government once Blair had surrendered. Yet a few years later he left Number 10 like a wounded animal, empty, seemingly rundown, and unbelievable. Even though, possibly of all recent prime ministers, he was just the right