While all of the focus is on Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting, and their plans for the country, I am detecting a change in the Prime Minister, who has cut a much more relaxed figure over the past fortnight.
In an interview on Monday for all broadcasters, Sir Keir Starmer came out fighting, making it clear he intends to fight for his job in a leadership contest should one take place. And why not?
A recent poll of Labour members by YouGov showed that while Sir Keir trails Mr Burnham by a significant margin (47 per cent to 31 per cent), he is still three times more popular with the membership than all other challengers, including Mr Streeting.
The approaches from both Mr Streeting and Mr Burnham have hardly set the pulses racing among the Labour faithful.
Mr Streeting's speech in the Commons on Wednesday was underwhelming, and that’s being generous. For me, it lacked passion, gusto and failed to offer an alternative prospectus to what the PM has to offer.
Yes, he kicked out at Nigel Farage and Reform, saying: “English nationalism represented by Farage and Reform is a threat to the values and ideals that have made this country great.”
Yet this failed to explain why Reform is now the opposition in Wales and Scotland.
Mr Streeting needed the support of 81 Labour MPs to get on the ballot, but this offering is unlikely to have encouraged more MPs to back him for the leadership.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham officially launched his leadership bid on Friday this week in Makerfield, but already he is being accused of flip-flopping over policy areas from rejoining Europe to the new trans guidance.
Conservative advisers are shocked that Labour are repeating their mistakes, believing that a metro mayor who is great at solving local issues can do the same nationally, despite those problems often being entrenched in areas for decades.
Boris Johnson's ghost looms large over Andy Burnham - and it could be his undoing | Getty Images
Burnham has many of Boris Johnson’s characteristics. A metro mayor, not fully tested at the national level, offering "Manchesterism" as solutions for the nation, which sounds an awful lot like levelling up 2.0.
And while the focus is on Mr Burnham, he could get stopped in Makerfield; other candidates are circling like vultures, such as Angela Rayner, Yvette Cooper and even former party leader Ed Miliband.
And changing leaders does nothing to deal with the fundamental problems facing the country of soaring debt - up £24.3billion last month alone - fueled by a surging bill to cover increases in pensions and benefits.
I think there will be a leadership contest. Sir Keir knows that, and he's getting ready for the fight. He can see the narrow path to defeating his challengers and staying on as PM. Is this why the embattled Prime Minister had a spring in his step this past week?