Finally, Keir Starmer awkwardly fell on his sword, which I suppose marks a change from the pork sword of Mandelson that had done so much damage.

Off you pop, Keith.

No surprise that this was naturally a u-turn on earlier unequivocal commitments to fight on and was wrapped in a tissue of shameless gaslighting about Labour’s recent record. His only misfortune had apparently been to have been disliked as a person.

Mate, it’s been a dumpster fire.

Honesty reared its head once with the crying at the end.

It rang true that an authoritarian bully would be deeply wounded at being turfed out by MPs as purposeful as a coachload of handcuffed paraplegics on ketamine.

The length and breadth of the country, the working man got Keir’s tears straight into his veins.

As for Starmer’s implied celebration of a Labour Party crammed with talent, it’s evident that members don’t consider any one of its 403 existing MPs to be worthy of the top job.

Roll out the barrel, or just scrape it. One of the two, and it looks like it’s going to be a two-time loser from local government who’d been spanked by both Ed Miliband and Corbyn on previous leadership outings.

That’s what passes as a thoroughbred these days.

The notice period, which seems counter-productive once you’ve defenestrated a shitter, reflects Starmer’s unshakeable and deluded self-belief and the relief of everyone else that he’d finally and cleanly taken the plunge. It was probably part of the deal to get him gone.

And thoughts and prayers for Wes Streeting, who turned out to be surprisingly inept for – in Michael Gove’s words – an assassin.

I think we all know that he’s probably been well and truly shafted by the Mandelson thing.

With Mandy blown, Wes remained the most potent politically radioactive source in Westminster. Burnham’s team will now be actively chasing down some terminal dirt on him. He’s probably reaching for his helmet as we speak.

And so begins a new season for the circus.

Ultimately, if you’re expecting great things from the new guy, don’t hold your breath. He will be to Starmer, what Starmer was to Corbyn.

A desperate alternative.