This should have been a good week for Sir Keir Starmer. His Government had overseen a near 50 per cent drop in net immigration, inflation dipped below 3 per cent and his beloved Arsenal secured their first league title in 22 years.
Instead, the starting gun was fired in the race to replace him as prime minister and Labour leader.
On Friday, Andy Burnham kicked off his by-election campaign in Makerfield proclaiming that British politics was “tired” and in need of a “new script” as he set out a vision that went far beyond the confines of the Wigan constituency.
Shorts
“A vote for me in this by-election is a vote to change Labour,” he told supporters in a direct challenge to the Prime Minister.
