The assumption grows that this is a PM who won't last

As a chronicler of Tony Blair’s government, I found the “authority draining away” theme irritating.

- JOHN RENTOUL

Mainly because I didn’t want it to be true. Even though it was obvious, when Blair announced in 2004 that he would not fight the election after next, it would become harder for him to get people to do what he wanted them to do. But that was after he had been prime minister for seven years. It allowed him to fend off Gordon Brown for another three years, and win an election - and he still succeeded in intensifying his reform programme of academy schools and NHS choice.

Keir Starmer has hit the “authority draining away” stage rather early. “Sir Keir Starmer is rapidly losing his authority,” said The Economist in July, when a threatened rebellion by Labour MPs forced him to gut a bill to cut disability benefits. “The PM’s authority has been given a kick,” agreed Laura Kuenssberg of the BBC.

Last month, Reuters reported, “UK PM Starmer’s authority shaken as rift with Labour lawmakers deepens,” when someone briefed journalists on his behalf that he would stand and fight any challenge to his leadership. And on and on.

That briefing, intended to put an end to leadership speculation, only made it worse. Yesterday alone, the Telegraph led its front page with allies of Wes Streeting proposing a joint leadership ticket with Angela Rayner, while The Times reported that Blair himself is “frustrated” with Starmer and is “looking closely at each of the leadership campaigns”.