Andy Burnham isn't my party leader but I know him to be decent, intelligent and likeable – Alistair Carmichael

The “political reality” in question, of course, was that the Prime Minister had run out of road. Andy Burnham’s by-election victory last week provided an answer to the one question that was keeping Starmer in Downing Street; namely, “if not Keir, who?”

To be clear, there was no perfect (or even particularly good) outcome for either the Labour party or the country from the sorry state of affairs in which they found themselves. The best that could be hoped for was that they might manage the least bad.

READ MORE: Andy Burnham must resist SNP's efforts to pressure him into 'benefits for all'

Monty Python references

In this case, the ‘least bad’ appears to be a coronation for Burnham, the so-called “King of the North”. Uncontested elections are far from ideal, but not as far from ideal as a messy contest which would run over the summer months while the world is metaphorically (and sometimes literally) on fire.

There was a certain poignancy to the way in which Starmer faced his fate on Monday. In defining himself as a politician, Starmer lacked the ability (or perhaps willingness) to show much by way of emotion. It was only as he announced his resignation that his voice cracked and the human side was laid bare for all to see.

Later that day, by contrast, the mood in the House of Commons was almost one of giddy relief as Burnham took his seat. Still flush with by-election success, he was relaxed and self-assured. As he swapped Monty Python references with opposition MPs, the mood lightened noticeably. It would be premature to predict on that basis whether Burnham will make his premiership a success, but this looked like a man who was capable of doing the job – and, unlike Starmer, looked like he might actually enjoy it.

READ MORE: Labour must move quickly to replace Starmer with Burnham and give the country hope

The dangers of political volatility

Burnham and I were both elected to parliament for the first time in 2001. I got to know him doing the hard yards in committees and always found him to be decent, intelligent and likeable – as I still do today. He obviously had talent but was not someone who you would necessarily have marked down as a future Prime Minister in a cohort that included the likes of David Miliband amongst others.

Twenty-five years down the line, however, when all the ‘stellar’ prospects have crashed and burned one by one, Burnham is the last man standing.

We may have fairly different politics but, for what it is worth, I hope he succeeds. Political volatility is the new normal. When the political landscape north and south of the Border is littered with people who are interested only in burning everything down, you have to hope that there remains space for those who have a more constructive view of what politics can achieve.

The nature of political realities is that you cannot just ‘consider’ them. A good leader is one who can shape the narrative and change political realities for the better. Starmer, we now know, was not up to that task. Whether Burnham is up to it, only time will tell.

Alistair Carmichael is the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland