Sir Keir Starmer could do no wrong once upon a time. He drove out the hard left from Labour, established an iron grip over the party’s personnel and policies, and rode high in the polls as the Conservatives self-destructed.

In opposition he had his fair share of setbacks and U-turns, but weathered them all. The “no-drama Starmer” attitude was seen as a welcome relief from Tory chaos.

What a difference a year makes. The Parliamentary Labour Party that Starmer modelled in his own image is in increasingly open revolt as MPs stare disaster in the face, with Reform UK holding a double-digit lead in opinion polls.

It is less than a fortnight since the Prime Minister announced “phase two” of this Government, promising to move to delivery after a first 14 months marked by turbulence in No 10, g

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