The platitudes jamming the airwaves yesterday were already familiar. For months, ministers have been sent into the studios to "listen and learn" before pledging to "challenge and change". Listening to the old script being rehearsed yesterday after Labour lost Glasgow East gave the impression that little had changed that had not already been changed by the loss of London, Crewe and countless townhalls. The detailed figures, however, showed something different: Labour has plunged a new depth. In theory, they suggest the prime minister could lose his own seat. But he will be more worried by the very practical question of how his MPs will react. Psephologists warn against making national projections from single-seat byelections, before doing it anyway. What we can say is that this was Labour's 25th safest seat, so assuming...
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