The Glasgow North East byelection can only be seen as a good result for the Labour party. It will of course be dismissed as saying nothing about the forthcoming general election. But let us pause for one second and consider what would be said if Labour had lost, or even done badly. In that scenario the knives would be out for Gordon Brown again. All the coup plotters would be back. The media and Conservative bloggers would be saying that this showed that Labour was on course to lose the general election and that the byelection was merely the latest evidence of that fact. A general election to wipe the slate clean would be demanded.

The Conservatives lost byelections in southern England in the most unpopular moments of Tory governments. That was relevant. If Labour had lost in Glasgow it would have been relevant. So if Labour wins it cannot also be dismissed.

Yes, it’s Scotland. But Labour has had some rough days in Scotland of late. A good result should be given its due.

When Tories argue that Labour winning in Scotland can be discounted because Scotland is a special case all that indicates is the weakness of the Conservative party. It does not say good things about a party that aims to speak for the whole of Britain that it can come close to losing its deposit in a byelection in one of Britain’s biggest cities months before a general election they are predicted to win.

The result is a good one, and further adds to the sense that there is still plenty to fight for.