The Peter Mandelson scandal has not only buried his own political career, but it could also end Keir Starmer's, too. It is staggering that the Prime Minister appointed a man with a track record of political scandals as US ambassador, despite knowing that he was matey with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

In times of crisis, you need friends. Sir Keir has very few. Certainly not on the Labour back benches. That was evidently clear in PMQs as the ashen-faced Labour leader fumbled with his papers and garbled on aimlessly.

Never before have I seen a Prime Minister so ineffectual. He had no fight in him.

His leadership is now on life support and it was somewhat eyebrow-raising that Angela Rayner appeared to spearhead a backbench revolt over the Mandelson files.

While the PM was crumbling in the Commons another potential Labour leader, Shabana Mahmood, contradicted him by admitting Brexit is not to blame for the Channel migrant crisis.

Labour MPs, from all wings of the party, are also increasingly voicing privately that Sir Keir's demise is now terminal.

Whether he staggers on to the May elections, in which Labour face being trounced, remains to be seen.

What is clear is that Sir Keir's authority is shot.

He no longer speaks for the Labour Party, let alone the country.