So now it is a battle of the lists - 100 MP's have signed up to support British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and, at the time of writing, the list of those calling for him to go, or think about going, had just passed 87 and continues to tick upward.
Four junior ministers have resigned, as well as a clutch of parliamentary private secretaries - the lowest rank of those on the government's payroll, often referred to as ministerial bag carriers.
They were instantly replaced, as Mr Starmer sought to stamp his authority on the party.
The first sign of that stamping arrived bright and early in Downing Street, when members of the cabinet filed in for their regular Tuesday meeting - all of them refusing to say anything.
There was that by now customary, though no less undignified, cacophony of reporters roaring at ministers as they went to their daily work.
Watch: UK ministers leave Downing Street after crucial cabinet meeting
However, when they sat down at the cabinet table, the prime minister, ever the lawyer, said to them: Look, there is a process in the UK. We have rules and regulations in the Labour Party - if you want to challenge me, somebody has to be a challenger. Somebody has to put up or shut up. So if nobody has challenged me, there is no challenge to the leadership, and we should get on with the business of running the country.
According to the accounts afterwards, plenty of ministers came straight across the road to where the reporters were standing and told them what they thought was going on, and registered their expressions of support for the prime minister.
Read more:
Labour divided on Starmer as fourth minister quits but 100 MPs express support
Possible contenders if UK PM Starmer quits
Key issues during Labour leader's time as UK Prime Minister
Live updates
They said nobody spoke out against Mr Starmer and nobody challenged him at the table.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting was seen to be the last one leaving Number 10.
He has been the one that people are suggesting is most likely to be orchestrating this steady drip drip of backbenchers, and then parliamentary private secretaries, and now a couple of junior ministers, resigning or calling for Mr Starmer to go, if indeed anyone is orchestrating anything.
He reportedly tried to speak to Mr Starmer after the cabinet meeting, because the prime minister said during that meeting that he would not discuss the leadership question at the table but with ministers individually.
But apparently, when Mr Streeting tried to talk to Mr Starmer afterwards, hanging around for a while, the prime minister would not talk to him, and would not talk to other people individually at that time either.
So he faced the cabinet down, pushed them out of Number 10, and said: Look, if you want to go for this, you've got to go for it now and that's where we are now, waiting to see what happens.
In particular, waiting to see what happens with Mr Streeting and Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who was photographed at Euston Station in London around midday, having arrived on a train from Manchester.
He was due to speak at a conference today but cancelled his appearance because of the party turmoil. So why did he turn up in London on this of all days?
If Mr Streeting gets into a leadership challenge early, he has the advantage, because Mayor Burnham is not a Member of Parliament. It is as simple as that.
Mr Burnham is seen as the favourite if he can actually get a seat in Parliament but, after the election results of last week, some people are wondering whether there is any such thing as a safe Labour seat?
He could potentially stand for election in Manchester if a friendly fellow decides to fall on their sword and spark a bye-election.
However, that is obviously a process that does not happen overnight; it would probably take a minimum of six weeks, even if everything were to go right for him.
So he has an interest in stalling things or trying to arrange one of these orderly transitions of power, whatever that is. But Mr Burnham is looking for the longer game of succession.
Mr Streeting is looking for the shorter game. Some of the people who observe these things very closely are saying it's really up to Mr Streeting now to show leadership - Stand up, come out, declare and stand against the prime minister if he is to stake his claim to the crown.
Otherwise, the longer he leaves it, the more advantage there is for Mr Burnham.
