Yeah, it seems like much has already been discussed and agreed upon in the backstage. Burnham comes in, Streeting gives a go, and there is a smooth transition.

I could imagine that they simply didn't want to have weeks or months of limbo while the world situation is as unstable as it is. Labour very much campaigned on "being different than Tories". And you could argue that a lengthy contest is counter productive. Especially if it turns into a media circus that only binds attention and resources, giving Farage room to attack.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.