Martin Salter MP, who managed Labour's doomed campaign in the Henley by-election, made a brave attempt to gloss over the result by comparing it with the Winchester by-election in November 1997, when the Labour candidate received 1.7% of the vote, which looks worse than the dismal 3% that their sacrificial champion collected in Henley. But the comparison does not work, and not just because Labour came third in Winchester, ahead of the fringe parties. Then Labour voters switched to the Liberal Democrat, Mark Oaten, to rid themselves of a Tory MP. In Henley, we can only assume that they switched because they want to be rid of a Labour Government.
For a more apt comparison, Mr Salter should look back to when the Labour Party ran a candidate in the Isle of Wight in the 1983 General Election, who was a member of the Militant Tendency. She got 2.4% of the vote, which still just pips last night's result as the worst performance by any Labour candidate anywhere since the war. Another comparison that insinuates itself into the memory is the Bootle by election in May 1990, when David Owen's SDP was beaten into seventh place, behind the Monster Raving Loony Party. Owen got the message, and disbanded the party.
I don't suggest that the time has yet come for Gordon Brown to wind up the Labour Party, but this result is about as bad as it could be for him. It shows how wise Labour was not to put up a candidate against David Davis, whose odd decision to force an unnecessary by election in two weeks time may yet knock some of the gloss after last night's triumph for the Conservatives.
"It shows how wise Labour was not to put up a candidate against David Davis, whose odd decision to force an unnecessary by election in two weeks time may yet knock some of the gloss after last night's triumph for the Conservatives."
Alternatively it shows how weak and spineless the Labour Party has become in facing the electorate. If Brown put up a candidate against Davis and backed that candidate, he would in all probability lose, but would at least be seen to be showing both passion and courage, breaking the "Bottler" Brown narrative. Instead we get his pitiful cheerleaders giving us weak spin and desperate excuses.
Posted by: A Williams | Friday, 27 June 2008 at 03:02 PM
http://thecrownblogspot.blogspot.com/2008/06/tories-henley-moment.html
I reckon this is a better comparison. 3 by-elections when the Tories were in power and deeply unpopular
Posted by: crown | Friday, 27 June 2008 at 04:41 PM
"I don't suggest that the time has yet come for Gordon Brown to wind up the Labour Party"
Nope it's time for a Lib/Lab merger!
Posted by: Cassandra | Friday, 27 June 2008 at 04:57 PM
At least there's something to keep political debate alive as we slip into silly season. I'd rather have several by-elections than be forced to look at photos of Gordon Brown on holiday.
Posted by: Linda | Thursday, 03 July 2008 at 03:45 PM