Sometimes it is easy to forget that Keir Starmer won a landslide election victory just 16 months ago.

By rights, the prime minister should still be enjoying something of a honeymoon period, with a huge Commons majority ensuring a smooth passage for any policy he wishes to enact.

And yet, we are already at the stage of the Starmer premiership when he is having to plead with his most senior colleagues to work with, rather than against, him.

As one MP sarcastically commented: “Very normal less than 18 months after an election.”

The readout of this morning’s weekly cabinet meeting was unusual in that is actually contained some news.

“The prime minister opened cabinet by setting out the importance of the government’s mandate to renew the country,” his spokesman said.

“He said distractio

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