In a letter published in The Sunday Times on November 22, Alistair Lexden wondered if a famous novel had contributed to the extraordinary events at 10 Downing Street nine days earlier, which ended with the sudden resignation of Dominic Cummings after bitter arguments involving Boris Johnson’s partner, Carrie Symonds.

Last weekend Carrie Symonds emerged triumphant from a power struggle at No 10. In Barchester Towers, Mr Slope, a radical with good press connections, is said to have the weak-willed Bishop Proudie “in his pocket”. Mrs Proudie rounds on her husband, shouting that her rival “has gone mad with arrogance”, and he tells Slope he “should leave the palace at the earliest possible moment”. The ineffectual bishop “never again aspired to disobey“ her. Could Symonds be a fan of Anthony Trollope?

Lord Lexden
House of Lords