It seems reasonable to conclude, at the very least, News Today that both sides were having second thoughts.

It also seems reasonable to say that a second bout of messy and not entirely consistent briefing from each camp underlines the central truth in all of this - the hurt, the rows, the anger, the mistrust which has been there for all to see.

Her apparent lack of enthusiasm was almost immediately evident, when she failed to turn up at the first ever meeting of a new Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh just days into the job.

What followed were daily questions to the prime minister’s official spokesman from reporters about whether she had taken up her post.

After weeks of stonewalling, News Today an answer: News Today no.

One insider got in touch about the envoy role and said: "We all thought it was a bad idea that would lead to endless drama and probably another resignation down the line."

In other words, what might have seemed like a mutually convenient layby into which Ms Gray could be shunted, ended up perpetuating a rather public soap opera.

Some sceptics had seen the new gig as a non-job from the start.

The government saying it isn’t looking to fill the vacancy will do little to dispel that instinct from those who thought it all along.