Lucy Fisher

That's right.

And we shouldn't forget that Andy Burnham's seismic victory in Makerfield is really important coming in the wake of Labour facing an absolute drubbing in the elections only last month in Scotland, in Wales and in English councils.

And in fact, Nigel Farage's Reform UK had swept the board.

So Andy Burnham winning here has brought a lot of relief to Labour MPs who've been gripped by a sense of panic.

that they are going to be routed at the next general election.

And Burnham's argument is, look, I've shown locally that I can take on Farage and beat reform.

Now let me lead the party and I can do it nationally.

So things are moving quickly.

We know that cabinet ministers have privately over the weekend urged Starmer to think about his position.

So we're all bracing to see whether there is a podium erected in Downing Street today or later this week.

at which Starmer potentially announces his plan to resign and sets out a timetable for that.

I think that tone of defiance and stubbornness speaks to something in his character.

And beyond that,

He has very, very difficult relations with Andy Burnham.

So there's barely anyone less likely that Starmer would want to hand the keys of Downing Street to.

And on top of all that, you know, I think he feels very aggrieved, his friends tell me, that he sees it being the case that he's not given enough credit by his party for winning this stunning majority less than two years ago.

And in a sense, if you step back, I think it's easy to understand he's in a state of shock in a way at just how quickly things have unravelled in less than 24 months.

So I think he was looking to hang on in.

He may yet still attempt to do that.

But I think that the political gravity is becoming clear to him.