Keir Starmer appears to have dodged the bullet of an immediate leadership challenge, though the gun was arguably never fully loaded. After a day of high drama that saw four ministers - including Jess Phillips, Miatta Fahnbulleh, and Zubir Ahmed - resign and call for him to step aside, the prime minister has reportedly seen off the threat from health secretary Wes Streeting, who was widely expected to launch a bid but apparently didn't have the numbers.

Streeting is due to meet Starmer on Wednesday morning, and is expected to keep his thoughts to himself after the meeting so as not to distract from the King's Speech - because nothing says "stable government" like a monarch reading a speech while your party secretly plots your demise. Downing Street insiders suggest Streeting may be climbing down from his brinkmanship, with one loyalist cabinet minister telling the Guardian: "After all that, it's looking like Wes may not have the numbers after all. I'm pleased and furious at the same time."

Meanwhile, deputy PM David Lammy has urged rebellious MPs to back off, warning they risk benefiting Nigel Farge and Reform - because nothing unites a party like the shared fear of a rival. And in a move that suggests the leadership crisis is not entirely settled, Ed Miliband was reportedly prepared to run for leader himself if Streeting had gone for it, proving that Labour's leadership contests are like buses: you wait ages for one, then several nearly show up.

On the pro-Starmer side, more than 100 MPs signed a letter saying it's "no time for a leadership contest" - though some, like MP Rupa Huq, were surprised to find their names on it, calling the move "not very courteous." The LabourList tally shows 88 MPs have called for Starmer to go, meaning the pro- and anti-camps are nearly neck-and-neck, which is the political equivalent of a tied election where everyone loses.

Jess Phillips's resignation letter was particularly scathing, focusing on Starmer's failure to act on blocking child abuse images on phones - a policy she says has been sitting on his desk for months. Internet safety campaigners echoed her frustration, adding that Starmer's lack of leadership on the issue had been glaring. Meanwhile, Donald Trump weighed in from the White House, advising Starmer to "open up your oil in the North Sea" and stop "windmilling the country to death" - because nothing says helpful foreign advice like a man who once suggested injecting bleach.

Buckingham Palace, for its part, reportedly asked whether King Charles should proceed with the State Opening of Parliament as planned, given the political chaos. The Palace was assured it was constitutionally correct, but acknowledged the ceremony would be awkward for the monarch. It's understood the king will fulfill his duties, but would prefer the politicians sort out their mess without dragging him into it - a sentiment shared by most of the country.