Fighting byelections or Brexit, the rule is the same: don’t give up

Voters can spring surprises at any time. This is not a time for Remainers to despair. It is never time for that

During the closing stages of Margaret Thatcher's premiership, I said to the Conservative MP John Biffen: I think Mrs Thatcher must be suffering."

This was surprising, coming from such a long-term critic of Thatcherism as myself, but so was the reply from Biffen, a former member of her cabinet and also, for years, her leader of the Commons. Yes," he replied, but is she suffering enough?"