All political careers inevitably end in failure but few have ended as miserably as that of Theresa May.
She leaves after three years in No10 with the unwelcome distinction of having achieved almost nothing of any substance.
Mrs May came to office with noble intentions, promising a fairer country and to end the burning injustices.
In what became a pattern with her premiership, the words were never matched by deeds.
She bequeaths a dismal domestic legacy of more than four million children in poverty, a record number of people using foodbanks and crumbling public services.
There was no attempt to grapple with two of the biggest and most pressing challenges of our time, climate change and social care.
Judged on this alone, Mrs May would have ranked as one of the least accomplished PMs.
But it is her failure on Brexit which will cement her place as one of the worst premiers.
She ran for PM fully knowing delivering on the referendum would dominate her term.
This was an act of hubris by someone whose temperament, management style and skill set have proven woefully insufficient.
Her time in office will be remembered for its record number of ministerial resignations and the worst Commons defeat inflicted on a PM.
Some will have sympathy for a PM who wept as she announced her departure.
They should remember Mrs May shed no tears for the victims of the Windrush deportation scandal nor for those who have been left starving because of Universal Credit.
While public services struggle and thousands of steelworkers face an uncertain future, the Tories will spend the next two months indulging in yet another leadership contest.
There is no reason to believe the next leader will be any more successful than the last.
Who takes over the reins of power should not be in the hands of Conservative MPs and a few thousands party members.
If the next leader wants a mandate to govern they should call a general election.
