Jason Cowley hasn't been near the pace in recent months and I'm surprised that he's giving oxygen to the anti-semitism theme. (Maybe that's his appeal to Keith?) As Cowley knows well, Ivan Lewis did not give any commitment to the Northern Ireland brief beyond the present Stormont crisis. Moreover there was obviously value in keeping Vernon Coaker on board from Yvette's campaign team, and Coaker is of course closely familiar with the complexities of Northern Ireland's politics.

I wouldn't be too harsh on some of those who have declined to serve. It would surely have been impossible for Yvette Cooper, for instance, to stay in the shadow cabinet in view of her openly declared hostility to the Corbyn-McDonnell economics agenda. I'd say she's behaved rather more honourably than Andy Burnham, whose opportunist flip-flopping has been utterly risible.

Stella Creasy, whom Steve listed among the women deserters, made it clear from the outset (as Steve noted earlier) that she intended to stay on the back benches. She is indeed extremely capable, Steve, but Jezza's success makes it much more likely that the baton will be passed to someone closer to his outlook. Lisa Nandy is obviously a star in the making (as well as contributing to ethnic diversity). Equally Catherine West from the new intake is likely to make a big impression fairly quickly.