It says everything about Boris Johnson's current standing within the Tory party that Theresa May's only reference to him today prompted ridicule, not fear.
When the Prime Minister paid tribute to "the passion the former Foreign Secretary has demonstrated" in his post, she had to pause while MPs on all sides of the House of Commons laughed at the remark. Nicky Morgan, a backbench Remainer and now a May loyalist, joked "with who?"
That doesn't mean that Johnson's resignation didn't trouble Downing Street. Losing not just one but two senior Cabinet ministers risks undermining her own authority. Yet until more MPs follow up by submitting letters of no confidence in May, she won't become genuinely worried about Boris's departure.
And the PM is digging in. When her spokesman was asked if she intended to fight any such confidence vote, he replied tersely: "Yes". The main issue is whether Johnson can mobilise enough rebels to rally behind him.
Although he retains a hard core of followers, he has failed to connect with new Tory MPs from the 2015 and 2017 election intakes. And even during the 2016 Tory leadership race, his alleged support of more than 70 MPs never materialised. His standing is even lower now.
