Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

A stunning victory

It’s official – the SNP has taken Glasgow East with a majority of 365 in what is, quite simply, a stunning victory. [And quite a result for Cameron, he’s pushed the Liberal Democrats into third place, getting real traction in a constituency where Tory vote is normally no higher than staff members and blood relatives]. This is most momentous Scottish by-election since Hillhead in 1982. The SNP’s greatest victory since the Hamilton by-election which put it on the map in 1967. And a result which has fought off very tough competition to be Gordon Brown’s worst setback yet.

Westminster will want to know tomorrow what this means for Gordon Brown. The question they should ask is what this means for Labour – and if there is such a thing as “rock bottom” for this party. Because tonight there just seems to be a vacuum, sucking up the Labour Party up very quickly. Yes, it was standing tall a year ago – but so was Bear

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