Amber Rudd lifts the soft-Brexit torch - and her leadership prospects

Work and pensions secretary’s defiance of PM this week puts her back in the spotlight

It is a high-risk strategy but one that could yet result in her becoming the next prime minister. As the Brexit impasse has continued, a resurgent Amber Rudd has emerged as the cabinet minister who has seized the initiative, running a soft Brexit operation that this week forced the beleaguered prime minister to effectively abandon no-deal.

The work and pensions secretary, who only returned to cabinet in November, has helped coordinate a formidable revolt of Tory remainers and soft Brexiters over the last fortnight, forcing a reluctant Theresa May to allow a vote on extending article 50 if no deal is agreed by 12 March.