Starmer dug in, promising bolder action and arguing that the country was starting to turn the corner under his leadership, with NHS waiting lists falling and reductions in legal migration and small boat crossings.
He announced plans for a ban on social media for under 16-year-olds – seen as an attempt to secure a political legacy – and his supporters pointed to initiatives like more free breakfast clubs in schools as evidence that the government was tackling the cost of living.
Above all, he warned against plunging the country into the chaos and instability of a leadership campaign.
But Streeting was by now openly campaigning to replace him. A further blow came when his widely-respected defence secretary John Healey resigned in protest over defence spending plans.
However, it was the return to Westminster of Andy Burnham that proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Sir Keir’s premiership.
Burnham, who had long coveted the top job, fought the Makerfield by-election with the aim of becoming an MP again so he could challenge for the Labour leadership.
His resounding defeat of Reform UK in an area that had just voted for Farage’s party in local elections was seen by many Labour MPs as proof that he was the man to lead their party into the next general election.
In his resignation speech, Sir Keir did not mention his would-be nemesis by name, and announced that there would now be a contest to select a new Labour leader. It remains to be seen if any other candidates emerge.
Standing at the lectern outside his front door, he said: “Walking up this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life.”
There was little hint of bitterness in his brief address, as he listed what he had achieved in the past two years in his familiar dry style and promised to give his successor his full support.
It was only as he came to the end of his speech that the emotion so rarely seen during his time in office bubbled to the surface.
“When I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job, being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad, and being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and my joy.”
