(Potential) by-election blues

The Scotsman speculates on the prospect of Labour failing to hold Glasgow East in the forthcoming by-election that was triggered by the resignation of David Marshall for health reasons:

"Many in the Labour Party now believe victory for the Nationalists in Glasgow East – one of the safest Labour seats in the UK – could force Mr Brown out of 10 Downing Street.

One senior Labour source at Westminster said last night that he believed the Prime Minister would have to go if Labour failed to hold on to a safe seat in the East End of Glasgow. The vote could be held as early as 24 July."

I'll put that degree to some use and give you some in depth psephological analysis: if Labour can't hold Glasgow East then they are fucked. Completely. Because Labour have been running Glasgow for over four hundred years.

Ok, so it just feels like that. It's since the fifties or something. I think it's been completely Labour since Roy Jenkins lost his Hillhead seat to George fucking Galloway in 1987 - apart from two wins for the SNP in Govan.

This was because on both occasions the Labour party fielded various wildlife wearing red rosettes instead of candidates.

If Labour can't win in the east end of Glasgow then there is no longer such a thing as a safe seat for them anywhere in the country. "Might have to go" indeed! Why is he still here?