Wes Streeting’s resignation letter to Keir Starmer is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. It is a classic of its type: a statement written almost entirely in Labour code, which never openly states any of its core messages but relies on context, absence and euphemism to impart its meaning. But there is, no matter how opaque it appears, meaning in there. He has provided the first glimpse of a shared approach to leadership change among Starmer’s opponents.

Until now, the Prime Minister’s main defence has been the division of his enemies. Obviously, his potential challengers were divided on who they wanted to succeed him. But more importantly, they were also divided on the process by which he would be replaced. Streeting wanted a quick one, which would allow him to run before Manchester mayor Andy Burnham could get back into parliament.

Burnham, for obvious reasons, wanted the opposite. Until that fundamental issue is resolved, soft left support cannot concentrate around a candidate. It means Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband are in contorted, hesitant positions, not knowing where they stand. A contest without Burnham naturally pushes them backward, one without him pushes them forward.

This situation began to resolve itself today. Once you battled your way through the........

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