Behind his mild-mannered demeanour, Rishi Sunak’s announcement was an excoriating demolition of the Conservative governments that came before his, some of which he was a member of.
Boris Johnson didn’t get a name check as the prime minister outlined a major shift in green policies, but boy his ideas and instincts were shredded; painted as shallow and not thought through.
In the news conference room in No 9 Downing Street, Mr Sunak stood in front of a new slogan with – and I know this is niche – a new font.
“Long term decisions for a brighter future,” it read – expect to see that rather prominently around the place at the Conservative party conference in Manchester in ten days’ time.
Mr Sunak framed this announcement as a blunt, direct and pragmatic clearing up job that also illustrated his political creed – willing to embrace controversy to deliver what he believes is a hard-headed necessity.