Keir Starmer has endured many miserable days since becoming prime minister on July 5 last year. But this may be his worst one yet.

The PM endured a triple whammy of bad news as the dark clouds over his government show no sign of clearing.

Shortly after a difficult session of prime minister’s questions, it was announced that Jim Gamble, the last remaining candidate to chair the government’s grooming gangs inquiry, had withdrawn from the process.

In a letter to home secretary Shabana Mahmood, the former police officer said he did not have the confidence of some abuse survivors, and was therefore unsuitable for the role.

It comes after four members of the the inquiry’s victims and survivors panel stood down, citing concerns about a “toxic environment”.

Gamble appeared to take a swipe

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