Well, no one saw that coming. Least of all, it seems, Kenneth Clarke himself, who had warned that a hung parliament would be an economic (if not a personal) disaster.

As the febrile atmosphere at Westminster abates, one must conclude that the new justice team is most interesting for its omissions, notwithstanding the former criminal barrister’s Indian summer.

Dominic Grieve is there alright, but will he be satisfied with the consolation prize of attorney general? Up to a point perhaps. He is, after all, in government now.

As indeed is Henry Bellingham, the former shadow justice minister who impressed with his thoughtful contributions to the debate on alternative business structures and legal aid. But Bellingham is off to the Foreign Office, so we’ll hear no more in that vein from him.

Back into the frame comes former shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert, who read law but was never a lawyer. Another eyecatching appointment is that of former City solicitor Jonathan Djanogly.

As Roger Smith writes, the government has made a promising start, particularly in respect of civil liberties and its commitment to protect trial by jury.

But what we don’t know is how vigorously it will fulfil Grieve’s key pre-election pledge to investigate alternative funding sources for legal aid. There is no word yet of the review Grieve promised to explore financing options.

Ken Clarke admitted he has a lot of catching up to do. Perhaps he hasn’t got round to it yet.