this is actually a variation wherein the person offering the vote of confidence is doing so in part to deflect attention from his own failures. not backing ten hag would look like admitting a mistake, which is something arnold can’t afford to do if he wants any chance of retaining the job once ratcliffe comes in (he’s likely to lose it anyway, though).

I mean by the sounds of it Arnold’s out the door himself, so I’m not sure what difference this makes.