What an unfortunate choice of verb for somebody shaped like a rubber ball

Manuel Mallia is more rubber ball than soldier of steel – and hey, what do you know. We’re told that he’s bouncing back.

The Labour Party’s soldier-of-steel count so far: Cyrus ‘Sherpa’ Engerer and Manuel ‘Tal-Qamel’ Mallia, both plucked from the PN skip and both as far from potential candidates for a remake of The Expendables as it is possible to be.

Fear not, Manuel the Bouncing Ball and Cyrus the Sherpa are right there, bringing up the rear.