But it all hinges on him declaring victory in the by-election after Labour MP Josh Simons agreed to step down to clear the way for Burnham to run. Now not only will he have to go against candidates from parties like Reform UK and the Conservatives, but SAS Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton might throw his hat into the ring.

Tweeting on X this week, Ant said: “A couple of by-elections coming up!

“A move back to the UK may just be on the cards to help the country I spent well over a decade defending to give a proper helping hand to turn it around and make it safe once more!"

Fans were immediately divided on social media, with one writing: “Post after post after post about you returning and doing something, yet here we are and you are still doing nothing. For someone so big and tough it seems that you are just full of hot air, watch you don’t blow off the mountain and float away…”

Somebody else argued: “We need someone like you to replace Sadiq Khan. That moron has failed London. You want to suit and boot back up for your country then I welcome it!”

Another said: “Either be here with your finger in the pie or stay in Dubai. Don’t be a sell out to your roots.”

Middleton moved to Dubai after his company failed to pay more than £1million in tax, and has faced further legal trouble in the past. Last year, the Ministry of Defence filed legal action against him in the High Court for alleged breach of contract relating to his social media posts about his experiences in the SAS.

In 2013 he was convicted of the unlawful wounding of a male police officer and the common assault of a female police officer in a nightclub; he served four months of a 14 month prison sentence after handing himself in to cops.