SO, in the trial of strength between the chief minister and backbench deputies, whose fist has hit the table first?

In theory, for the second time in quick succession, it’s the head of the Policy Council who has emerged with bruised knuckles, firmly rapped by the deputies for his delusions of grandeur.

Defeat over the State of the States speech follows quickly on the heels of the dispute over whether Lyndon Trott has the authority to sign off the international identity framework.

In both cases significant numbers of deputies called on the chief minister to reconsider. And in both cases they carried the day.

And yet.

A counter argument can be made that in both instances Deputy Trott has got his way. The framework – which this newspaper argued strongly was contrary to the long-term interests of the island – was approved with barely a murmur of discontent from the Assembly.

That allowed Deputy Trott to declare himself ‘absolutely delighted with the outcome of the debate’.

And, while the chief minister may not be able to deliver his infamous speech tomorrow, it is already out there for all to read.

The island has been able to see that, far from being a match to a box of tinder, the speech is – whisper it softly – rather dull. So uncontentious, in fact, that it is hard to imagine it being an accident.

Meanwhile, there have been enough conciliatory noises from the chief minister’s opponents to imagine that a State of the States speech of some form will be made within the year.

Who makes it, and who approves the contents, is unclear, but the arguments against a speech are focused on context, timing and rules, not the principle itself.

Which is just as well. It would be petty in the extreme to object to an idea that so obviously fits in with transparent government and communication.

For all that, it remains to be seen how dearly the chief minister has paid in terms of the Assembly’s loyalty in order to push his agenda.