It's the economy stupid

So,according to Harriet Harman,speaking on the Today programme the by election result was not the fault of the Labour party,its leader,the 10p tax,immigration issues.Neither is it the public sending the message to a mid term government.

No it is simply the fault of the world economic problems.

Really?

The result of last night,even in the realms of By election shock results,far exceeded anything that has been seen for some time.A 17% swing,a majority of 7,078 turned into one of 7,860 the other way and the Tories getting nearly 50% of the vote in what was a safe Labour seat.

The figures are being trotted out.The first Tory gain in a by election since 1982,the first gain from Labour since 1978,a safe Labour seat that remained Labour even in the darkest days of Michael Foot.A result that if replicated in a general election would leave the party with 100 MP's.

So where does the party go from here.One thing being predicted is not to panic.Wait for the new policies to gain credence from the electorate,wait for the economy to turn.

On the other side,time to panic!Ditch Brown now in order to prevent an inevitable defeat in two years time and the prospect of a Cameron government.