Quentin Letts

They either thought a different leader might promote them or they were worried Sir Keir will lose them their £100k-a-year parliamentary seats.

The Commons was full for the start of the King's Speech debate. Mutinous Wes was on the government front bench, possibly one final time. What a gift to Mrs B.

Slow but engrossing, that was the Westminster day. With the King back in his place, was Wes Streeting going to move? Did he have enough pawns? Might the (nasal) knight be taken?

Some will say Andy Burnham did a U-turn on Brexit. The motoring cliche does not do it justice. This volte-face was so breezy it was worthy of the Winter Olympics.

We saw Andy walking among his people, as Moses through the Red Sea; a Moses, mind you, dressed in black leisurewear rather than the flowing robes generally favoured by prophets.

In the centre, looking a little plumper and more important than the rest, sat Wes. Our would-be PM had come to make his big resignation speech.

Big problems demand serious responses. Rachel Reeves, panicked by economic failure, strode into the Commons and announced cut-price circus tickets for the summer.

Andy Burnham's campaign launch? Thumbs-up, swaggering tummy, Cool-Daddio dress code, plus hugs for Labour MPs, football banter and self-basting cries of 'brilliant, mate!'

Andy Burnham's campaign launch? Thumbs-up, swaggering tummy, Cool-Daddio dress code, plus hugs for Labour MPs, football banter and self-basting cries of 'brilliant, mate!'

One of Madame Tussauds' exhibits has escaped. Eyewitnesses described a waxen, gaunt figure running in the direction of Westminster.