Even Labour has had enough of its malfunctioning prime minister. Like a badly programmed robot, Starmer can’t do the basics anymore. No doubt he’s clever, but he isn’t suited to power. He can’t lead, can’t explain, can’t inspire, and can’t understand why he keeps having to U-turn on every big decision, even though the reasons are obvious to everyone else.

Starmer lacks instinct. He treats politics like a legal negotiation, when it’s messy, emotional and unpredictable. His attempt to block leadership rival Andy Burnham was meant to protect his position. Instead, it exposed his soft underbelly, and made Burnham stronger.

Labour’s National Executive Committee voted to bar the Mayor of Greater Manchester from standing as a by-election candidate, with Starmer personally urging it to block a potential rival. It backfired spectacularly.

More than 50 Labour MPs have now signed a letter condemning the move. Many more are privately furious. Two-thirds of party members think Burnham should be allowed to stand, and they prefer him to Starmer by a damning 48% to 26%. Starmer tried to dodge a fight and ended up sharpening the knives.

As Starmer heads off on another foreign trip, this time to China, the Labour Party is seething as plots bubble away unchecked in his absence.

Personally, I’m not convinced Labour members are wildly excited by Burnham. I don’t think Wes Streeting sets their pulses racing either. Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband may tickle their fancy, but even hardcore activists must realise they’re Marmite to the wider electorate. But they have to choose someone.

Labour has had enough of Starmer’s indecision, U-turns, communication failures and general bumbling. Historically, the party has tolerated underperforming leaders far longer than the Conservatives. It stuck with Ed Miliband in 2015 and even gave Jeremy Corbyn a second shot in 2019, with catastrophic results.

This time is different. Labour has a new threat to focus minds. Nigel Farage.

The Left loathes and fears Farage. Many see him as a British Trump. As Labour and the Tories sink deeper into trouble, Farage only grows stronger. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Labour knows it can’t fight the next election with a leader who can’t land a punch.

Starmer may enjoy the job. He might even shine while roaming international conferences talking about international law. But in a bare-knuckle political fight with Farage, he won’t land a punch. And the left are terrified.

Labour can’t afford another flop at the helm. Not now. With their arch-enemy Nigel Farage the beneficiary. They’re itching to stick their knives into Starmer, but Nigel Farage is the real killer.