With wars, tariffs and a stalled defence plan all demanding urgent attention, the country needs leadership, not a prolonged handover

So, Keir Starmer has bowed to the pressure of his cabinet and senior political colleagues and resigned, starting a process that will run into July and probably beyond.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this, and the events that have led up to it, the continued uncertainty is not helpful for our country.

With two continuing wars, a ceasefire in the Middle East that is far from holding, and what all sides of the House, apart from Downing Street, agree are disastrous steel tariffs set to take effect from July 1, the timing could scarcely be worse.

Add to this the continued uncertainty and delays over the Defence Investment Plan and, as a result, orders and rearmament plans, and surely now is not the time for an effective vacuum of leadership.

The mandate problem

This situation would, of course, make a strong argument for a rapid handover to Andy Burnham or whoever else comes forward. But I fear that a desire for a democratic process may demand otherwise.

After all, the last time the Labour Party had a new leader emerge without challenge, Gordon Brown, it did not go well. Brown always struggled with a perceived lack of mandate, and it did not go particularly well for the Conservatives in similar circumstances either.

The next few days and weeks will therefore be critical in ensuring that global actors and financial markets do not sense a power vacuum and exploit it to the cost of our nation.

An impossible in-tray

There is pressure and multiple promises for change, but there is no money. That makes it very difficult for a new leader to prioritise and negotiate while hitting the ground running, let alone inheriting what is already an exceptionally challenging in-tray.

The key decisions required to deliver on those promises will now be genuinely tough for the new Prime Minister, particularly if he or she intends to hold to the fiscal rules and manifesto commitments, while also winning sufficient public support ahead of what will surely be an inevitable early general election.

What the country needs now

What I personally want to see is certainty and stability, and at speed. In truth, this has not been the case for several months, and I sincerely hope that decisions are now made for the good of our country and its people, with party politics placed firmly second to the need for clear leadership.

For that reason, I hope for a swift decision and, in the spirit of Napoleon, who famously backed lucky generals, I wish the new Prime Minister the very best of luck.