Keir Starmer: The Rise and Fall

He was once the cool human rights lawyer who some claimed - albeit incorrectly - was the model for Colin Firth's Mark Darcy character in the Bridget Jones films.

But as prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer lacked star quality, wasted a 174-seat Commons majority, and paid the price for bad decisions and humiliating U-turns.

The end came after Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor who Sir Keir previously blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, won a spectacular victory in Makerfield - suggesting he can successfully lead Labour's fightback against Reform UK.

Now, with the PM deserted even by cabinet allies and once-loyal back benchers after Mr Burnham's triumphant return to Westminster, the so-called King of the North is poised to seize Labour's crown.

It was Starmer's disastrous decision to appoint the scandal-tainted Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US precipitated his ignominious downfall.

Then came a "Starmergeddon" meltdown in May's elections, which saw Labour crushed in England, Scotland, and Wales.

A fightback speech flopped as dozens of Labour MPs demanded an exit timetable, then came humiliation as senior cabinet ministers told him the game was up, followed by the shock resignation of previously loyal defence secretary John Healey in a spending row.

And by the time Burnham polled a stunning 55% of the vote in Makerfield, Starmer had haemorrhaged so much support among colleagues that his authority was shattered and his party was ready to turn to Burnham to come to Labour's rescue.

Starmer will leave No 10 as the most unpopular prime minister ever, while Burnham - untainted by government failings - enjoys stellar poll ratings and is seen as a saviour by MPs who feared Labour was destined to be a one-term government.