We reveal how the prime minister intends to fight a leadership challenge that he now sees as inevitable. Meanwhile the chancellor plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap to appease some Labour MPs, even though there are no votes in it. And why are phrases like 'carpet bombing' and 'harassment' being applied to Steve's reporting style?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times

Producer: Euan Dawtrey

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture credit: Getty Images

Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk

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