For several days now, and who knows for how much longer, the UK has been in the extraordinary position of having two prime ministers – and none. Ever since the scale of Andy Burnham’s by-election victory became apparent in the early hours of Friday morning, power has gravitated towards the outgoing mayor of Manchester, while inexorably draining away from the actual PM, Sir Keir Starmer.
Only a little more than 48 hours later, that harsh change seemed to be sinking in. For all Sir Keir’s repeated insistence that he would stand and fight, by Sunday the message had changed, even as the two principals themselves observed a wise silence. The combative talk from the Starmer camp had evaporated. Indeed, it is not unreasonable to ask whether such a camp existed any more, given the number of ministers and MPs reported to have called on Sir Keir to set a timetable for his departure.
