It is without doubt a beleaguering time in British politics no matter which side of the fence one is positioned.
Can one be optimistic? Perhaps not in the short term. The Conservatives, having made a mess of Brexit and full of internal division, are now faced with the prospect of selecting a new leader who will have one of the toughest political undertakings ever known. Not only has he/she got to find a way to unite the party but also grapple with the Brexit issue and much more as well as convincing the electorate that only they can be trusted to lead the country.
The Labour Party have their own serious issues to grapple with. The recent win in Peterborough gave them a timely boost but party bigwigs will know that they have to perform much better at all levels.The most staunch of Labour supporters must be tearing their hair out at the way the party is being led and the complete failure to capitalise on golden opportunities offered to them on a plate.
I suppose if you are a Lib/Dem or a Brexit Party fan then levels of optimism may be higher but more than tinged with a dose of realism.
At this time, it is a great pity that there is no obvious figure who can offer a frisson of excitement but even if there was, the electorate know more than ever that collectively Parliament has failed us at all levels from the Speaker to both sides of the House.
It is not a pantomime to swell one's egos and it's high time that many of our supposed representatives realised that this is the 21st century and got on with the business they are expected to do.