Labour has been plunged into fresh chaos after Andy Burnham announced that he is seeking a return to the Commons and Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary on another dramatic day in Westminster.
Josh Simons, a former ally of Sir Keir Starmer who was recently forced to resign as a minister, stunned colleagues by stepping down as an MP on Thursday to allow Mr Burnham to stand in his Makerfield seat, paving the way for a challenge to the prime minister.