Here comes the prospect of redemption, a second chance for Labour to start over. A victory for Andy Burnham in the Makerfield byelection not only opens the door to No 10; a leadership contest also allows him and Wes Streeting to finally stretch their wings. Ideas currently firmly chained up in a Downing Street dungeon could be freed. Land value tax? Wealth tax? No more children in temporary accommodation? A national care service? Why not?

Not to be outdone, the government itself has unleashed a burst of activity, with Rachel Reeves’s summer of fun, as well as speeding up a deal with the EU and online protection for children. Expect renewed effort on nearly a million Neets (young people not in education, employment or training) with radical plans from Alan Milburn this week.

Some world-weary scepticism may greet offers from leadership contenders. Among 10 pledges Keir Starmer made on the hustings, the following were broken: the abolition of tuition fees; common ownership of mail, energy and water; an increase in income tax for the top 5%; and defending “free movement as we leave the EU”. (Key promises have been kept, such as workers’ rights and “no more illegal wars”.) Once inside that black front door, policies can prove hard to implement. Times change, Treasury coffers become empty, borrowing costs rise, Donald Trump starts an economy-killing war and heavyweight financial bullies put on the frighteners: stuff happens or nerves fail.

But this time something is very different. The single........

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