How prime minister became the top job no one wants

Westminster has had its fun, but the game's up.

- JOHN RENTOUL

Energy secretary Ed Miliband – one of those named by anonymous “Downing Street sources” as harbouring leadership ambitions – has said no, he does not. “I had the best inoculation technique against wanting to be leader of the Labour Party,” he said. “Which is that I was leader of the Labour Party.”

Asked if he didn’t fancy “being a Donald Trump, coming back for more”, he was adamant: “Definitely not.”

This, after Wes Streeting was forced yesterday to deny that he too had been preparing to try to take over from Keir Starmer. It seems that the mysterious person reputedly briefing on behalf of the prime minister has achieved part of their aim - the top job is suddenly one that nobody wants.

Not even Starmer himself. When he was invited at Prime Minister’s Questions by the Labour MP for Rhyl to join her for a stroll on our new promenade to see just what North Wales has to offer, he said: “That is a very appealing invitation just at the moment” - and with enough feeling to suggest that he really would rather be somewhere other than at the despatch box.

The more the pretenders to the throne protest their modesty, of course, the harder Starmer should count his spoons.