It is the country’s future that matters, not the prime minister’s

The more the Conservative Party obsesses over Theresa May’s future, the more it seems to be focusing on the wrong issue. She has fended off questions about when she might stand down so far, and she has asked to speak to representatives of her party’s MPs on Thursday to explain herself.

As we report today, Sir Graham Brady, the genial figure struggling to be impartial at the head of the mob with the pitchforks, said: “We have asked a question. She’s coming, I assume, to answer it.”

It is true that the prime minister has handled the central task of her administration badly. So much so that Donald Tusk, the president of the European Union, said this week there was a 30 per cent chance of Brexit not happening. Yesterday, Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament Brexit coordinator, said “I don’t know” when asked if the UK would actually leave.

It might be argued, then, that The Independent should support the prime minister and encourage her in her excellent work in failing to take Britain out of the EU. However, as there is no evidence that an alternative Conservative leader could do a more effective job in delivering Brexit, there is no pressing need to take a view – except to point out that a leadership contest now would be a distraction from the real issues facing the country.

Brexit is obviously important, but it seems clearer now that the only way it will be resolved is through a fresh referendum. This is no longer a matter of supporters of EU membership, such as The Independent, trying to frustrate Brexit. The Leave movement has crashed its own project. By failing to unite behind the prime minister’s withdrawal agreement it has prevented the UK from leaving.

There is no majority either in parliament or in the country for a no-deal Brexit, which is what the candidates in a Conservative leadership contest are likely to advocate. Therefore, it seems that a majority in the House of Commons must eventually come round, one way or another, to giving the people a final say on the Brexit question.

It is encouraging that David Lidington, the prime minister’s deputy, appears to have given some thought to the practicalities of a referendum, as we also report today.

Meanwhile, there are more urgent issues for the government to address, and The Independent is constantly trying to draw attention to them. Climate change; housing; the health service, including mental health care and care of the elderly; and prisons. All of these need sustained, creative ministerial attention; and instead they have all benefited from fitful fine words and piecemeal good intentions.

And what have we heard from the candidates to succeed Ms May? A penny off the rate of income tax from Dominic Raab and bluff and bluster from The Daily Telegraph’s well-paid colour writer.

A Conservative leadership contest is not the answer to the country’s problems. Theresa May might as well stay in office and use her remaining time to make a late start, at least, on tackling the real burning injustices of which she once spoke so well.