The Tories shouldn't gloat about Galloway's victory

An unedifying week in politics keeps on getting worse. The Tories have this morning sent out a press release headlined ‘Warsi: If Labour can’t win in Bradford, how can they win a general election?’ The full quotation follows further on:

‘If Labour can’t win one of their safe seats in these tough economic times and in a tough week for the Government, how can they win anywhere? Not in half a century has an opposition come back from such an appalling result to win a majority at the next general election. This tells you everything you need to know about Ed Miliband’s weak leadership.’

It’s characteristic of much of the Tory reaction to George Galloway’s victory in Bradford West. Almost every blue-rosetted person that I’ve spoken to this morning has expressed a weird sort of delight at the result. For them, it’s purely good news that Miliband has been foiled at the ballot box — and even better that it relieves some of the pressure on the government.