Mahmood is a rising Labour star – but we need to know what follows her asylum plan

In a week of kamikaze malfunction, Labour’s horizons beyond the tortuous helmsmanship of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are on the minds of MPs and ministers, who are worrying out loud that the present leadership constellation is likely to lead it to a resounding defeat in 2029.

That is not something that can be cured by stuffing discontent down the back of the Number 10 sofa or publicly scolding leakers. The chaotic briefings and counter-briefings were really symptoms of concern that the bosses are just not good enough.

Wes Streeting , the Health Secretary and self-proclaimed “Faithful” to the Government, emerged enhanced by behaving like a political grown-up in the squabbles. But another figure who managed to stay out of the internal meltdown, and is emerging as a favourite in the vol