By James Hanson

Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Liverpool needing to fend off threats from two very different foes.

To his left, a challenger from within - the self-styled King of the North, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who’s been touting his own leadership credentials in recent weeks with a staggering lack of subtlety.

To his right, the man riding high in the opinion polls, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

In his speech to the Labour faithful, the prime minister took them both on - in different ways.

He indirectly rebuked Burnham by stating the government’s fiscal rules are “non negotiable” - a thinly veiled reference to the mayor’s recent comments that Downing Street shouldn’t be “in hock” to the bond markets.

It’s a message other cabinet ministers have delivered this week, as well.

The PM’s criticism of Nigel Farage, however, was far more direct.........

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