I think Labour's decision to court Angela Gallagher was crass and stupendously ill thought. In the end, they did well to limit the Chorlton defeat to 40+ votes. Joe Public had voted in a Lib Dem. She switched. There was always likely to be a backlash.
The winner in all of this? John Leech. Money in his pocket and an ineffectual, comedy councillor off his books.
When push comes to shove I think Lucy Powell will get the Labour machinery into shape and will narrowly take the seat back from Leech. Her starting point should be to get rid of some of the dead wood and rogue b*llshitters that post on this, and other, Labour blogs. All ego and no kudos.
