Will there be a new Prime Minister

before the end of the week - perhaps even today? 
Will there be a new Prime Minister before the end of the month?
The answer to the first question is "perhaps" - and to the second question is "it seems likely".
Is the government shooting itself in the foot? The answer is "probably, even almost certainly".
The present  Prime Minister has been relying on  his apparent personal popularity to do as he wishes. He is not a good listener. He dislikes advice.
He doesn't have a former Prime Minister's temper but, although on opposite sides of the political fence, he has much the same almost autocratic "do as I say" style. He is at odds with his party over some key policy issues - and out of step with much of the electorate on some too.
He has been "popular" and the "preferred Prime Minister" because he comes across as intelligent, erudite, sophisticated and unlikely to embarrass the country on the world stage. The man he ousted was seen as an embarrassment, a fool, lacking in intelligence and sophistication - or that was the way he was portrayed in the media.
They wanted the current man.
It has clearly become a different story inside his own party room. There are many people there who are nervous, not just about losing their own seats but about losing the next election - something most people think is a foregone conclusion if the opinion polls are correct.
This morning there was a piece in the paper saying that these people were being selfish in wanting a change of Prime Minister now. 
Really? Is it selfish to want to dump a man who is trying to push through his  own agenda? Make no mistake about it the tax cuts for business was his idea and not a popular one in his own party. They knew it wouldn't go down well with the electorate. Even if it made good economic sense it would be hard to sell. It's been ditched - but not before the damage was done. The push towards "renewable" energy is an economic and environmental disaster waiting to happen - because, if the current Opposition wins (as it likely will) , their targets are unrealistically high and, even in the unlikely even of being achieved, would bankrupt the country. The electorate needs to be informed about the economic as well as the real environmental costs of energy policies. Failing to inform people is simply endeavouring to give the public what they believe they want without explaining the consequences. It isn't leadership. It won't unite people. Their Leader - the Prime Minister in Waiting is not popular. There is good cause for that. He's a union man - some would say a union thug. His personal morals are questionable. He has had a far better run with the media than he deserves - but it helps to have mates there.
The present Prime Minister's predecessor had something interesting to say in a public statement yesterday. He talked about the work that is necessary in order to unite people behind you and in order to be able to lead them. He also said it was necessary to earn loyalty. Although he is right those things won't get the publicity they deserve.
Politics is a nasty business.