There are few more potent forces than the politics of grievance. 

It is also one of the most destructive.

Nigel Farage is riding high in the polls  because of his ability to exploit the widespread discontent among leave voters.

They were offered an easy answer to a complex question and then lulled into thinking it was deliverable by a Prime Minister who preferred to spout trite phrases such as Brexit Means Brexit rather than level with voters about the enormity of the task in hand.

You cannot blame Farage for seizing the opportunity offered to him. 

The Brexit Party leader is drawing large crowds because he has a simple message of betrayal and retribution.

Farage has always painted in broad brush strokes. 

He brazenly talks about trading on World Trade Organisation rules without bothering to engage in the details of such an outcome.

Who cares that WTO rules would devastate our farming industry by imposing tariffs of more than 30% on some agricultural exports when he can peddle a message of a proud country standing on its own feet again?

Conspicuously absent from his speeches is any attempt to promote policies that would actually improve people’s lives. 

He wants to make people feel better,  not better their prospects . 

His message resonates the strongest in the places which have most neglected such as Merthyr Tydfil  yet he has nothing to say on how he would attract investment to such areas, improve their transport links and restore local accountability.

Populism is popular until it is put into practice. 

Theresa May is gathering ministers and advisers today to finalise her “bold” Brexit offer.

After nearly three years in office we have come to appreciate that Mrs May’s  understanding of what a word means is frequently at odds with the established definition.

So few are surprised that initial reports suggest her “bold” package is more of a repackaging of previous offers. 

A briefing note seen by the Telegraph says it will offer something on workers’ rights to try to win over Labour MPs and a pledge to review alternative customs arrangements to try to placate Tory Brexiteers.

This is bold in the sense used by Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes Minister to advise against a particular course of action.

Even if some Labour MPs do come on board, the numbers are unlikely to be there from the Tories not least because the ERG has indicated it will not back anyone in the leadership contest who helps facilitate Mrs May’s Brexit.

Today's agenda:

2.30pm – Penny Mordaunt makes her debut at Defence questions in the Commons.

3.30pm (approx) – Backbench debate on the use of medical cannabis.

4pm – The chief executives of Ofgem, Ofwat and Ofcom appear before the Public Accounts Committee for a hearing on consumer protection.

6pm – Weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

6pm – One Nation Conservatives holding a meeting in Parliament.

What I am reading:

Jonathan Lis in Prospect magazine on how were are being run by a spoilt brats.

Britain talks:

The Mirror and the Express have launched ‘ Britain Talks ’ – a plan to bring the nation back together over a nice cup of tea.

The Mirror and Express are very different newspapers, with different readers and diverging views over Brexit and who should lead our country.

We’re poles apart on a whole host of issues. So, if we can do it – so can you.

We want you to sign up to agree to meet someone with different views . All you have to do is fill in a questionnaire, and we’ll do the rest.

We will match you with someone who lives locally to you and who has different views. Then, we’re asking you to meet up – in a safe, public space – for a cup of tea or coffee, or for a walk – to chat.

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