It feels a long time since Keir Starmer strode up the streets of Downing Street celebrating a landslide election victory. During the 2024 campaign, when I was part of the press pack following him around the country, he seemed to relish the back-and-forth with journalists. But fast forward to February 2026 and things have taken an ugly turn. As questions swirl about the appointment of Peter Mandelson and backbenchers openly question whether he should stay in post, he must have felt like a seal