The past week at Westminster has been loaded with drama, twists and turns. A long time in politics.

Until Thursday consensus had it that a ‘Brexiteer’ would most likely lead the Conservative Party following the public’s vote to leave the European Union, but no more.

We have witnessed are two leaders of the Leave campaign, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove fall out and potentially scupper political capital they gained and hoped would bring elevate them (respectively) to 10 Downing Street: a masterclass in how not to become Prime Minister or appear prime ministerial.

Last Monday Boris Johnson was considered the firm front-runner to succeed David Cameron as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister. By Thursday morning his political career lay in ruins as his fellow Leaver – and presumably now former friend – Justice Secretary Gove announced his intention to stand also.

If good politics is about keeping the moral high ground and winning hearts as well as minds, the fate of Gove’s ambitions could well follow BoJo’s.

Gove had long insisted that he could not possibly lead the country, that he does not have charisma for the role. Entering the leadership race on Thursday, and in doing so publicly insisted Boris was the one not fit for the job, Johnson bowed out.

This leaves Gove to face now bookies’ favourite, Home Secretary Theresa May, and three other candidates: Stephen Crabb, Liam Fox and Andrea Leadsom.

This is not to suggest Gove does not stand a chance of winning the leadership. He has every chance. But having claimed Boris was unfit for the job because he could not unite the party is an argument Theresa May might very well use against him too over the coming weeks.

They say that he who wields the knife never gets to wear the crown. Well, whereas Boris is perceived to have stabbed David Cameron in the back in opting to join the Leave camp, Gove appears to have wielded two knives in two backs having now done one over on Boris as well.

Ego, naivety and treachery together might scupper both their chances of becoming Prime Minister, by alienating party members entitled to vote in the leadership contest, and handing the role to Theresa May who in contrast might seem a safe pair of hands.

Who knows how the drama will play out between now and the leadership contest’s conclusion in September, but right now May looks more likely to secure the status of unifier which Gove covets. She campaigned for a Remain vote in the referendum but her contributions are, arguably, hardly memorable.

“Brexit means Brexit”, she says and Britain needs more than a “Brexit Prime Minister”. That’s smart strategy having been on the losing side.

The opportunity exists for Gove to capitalise on the Brexiteer’s momentum, but after the “brexecuting” Boris has he thrown away the chance to appear prime ministerial?