It is a big weekend for Rishi Sunak as the Prime Minister weighs up the future of his Home Secretary Suella Braverman after her outspoken attack on alleged double standards in policing.
Braverman's behaviour has mystified even her supporters in Westminster, who cannot understand why she is apparently seeking to defy the Prime Minister's team over changes to her article in The Times.
Does she want to get sacked? Removing Braverman could trigger a wider ministerial reshuffle as soon as Monday next week, with other ministers - Environment Secretary Therese Coffey and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack - set to be moved on.
Sunak and his team want to create a new look Cabinet to fight the general election, now probably a year away. Expect to see more young MPs in the mould of Net Zero secretary Claire Coutinho promoted to top jobs in the Cabinet as the Tories try to present a more youthful look going into the general election.
'Braverman's behaviour has mystified even her supporters in Westminster, who cannot understand why she is apparently seeking to defy the Prime Minister's team over changes to her article in The Times'
PA
Never forget that the Conservative Party is like a snake - it sheds its skin every so often to reinvent itself and ensure it maintains its appeal to voters.
The other issue is Jeremy Hunt, the "accidental" chancellor who Sunak inherited from Liz Truss when he became PM 13 months ago. Does Sunak want Hunt at his side to fight the next general election?
Hunt himself made clear in an overlooked interview with Classic FM's Moira Stewart last weekend that he is very happy where he is. Asked if he wanted to be Chancellor at the next election he replied: "I very much hope so."
And if Sunak wants to sack Hunt he will have to wait until after the Autumn statement, which will mean the agony over the future of Braverman will dominate for the next 10 days, through the Supreme Court ruling on the legality of processing migrants in Rwanda, and (what could be very tricky) annual net migration statistics, a week on Thursday.
The Home Secretary's position in one of the Great Offices of State means that the Tory Right feels that it has a strong representation in the Cabinet. And if the PM wants to fire her he will have to find a Tory right winger to replace her - I am not sure the rumour of a promotion for Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick will cut it.
Earlier this week the Government said that it would no longer be jailing criminals for less than a year in the King's Speech because it was "grasping the nettle" by recognising that short sentences do not rehabilitate offenders.
Grasping the nettle is exactly what Sunak has to do with Braverman.
The PM has this weekend to decide whether to back his Home Secretary or fire her and find a leading rightwinger to replace her as Home secretary or an equivalent job. If Sunak gets this one wrong, he will get stung badly.
