I should have waited a day before committing to my first sequel; this excellent Independent article, for me, calls it as Al’s preemptive attempt at damage limitation:

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/boris-johnson-cabinet-patel-davis-mogg-no-deal-brexit-a9015556.html

Of course it could be the people mentioned are indeed the very best the nasty party (yes, as spoken by Theresa May) has to offer?