Mary Regan: Cameron hoist by his own petard

How did the British prime minister not see the scale of his gamble?

David Cameron with Boris Johnson, the man now well placed to succeed him as British prime minister Picture: Getty

As part of his efforts to “soothe” the markets by ensuring a “smooth transition” to a new prime minister, David Cameron, will sometime this weekend – possibly while you are reading this, or perhaps already – meet with Boris Johnson. To continue in the vein of understatement that accompanied the briefing about this likely encounter to political correspondents, let’s just say it will be awkward.

With the reflective mood that seems to be ...