It would appear that Kemi Badenoch’s efforts to stabilise the Conservative Party are paying off. They came a stolid, unremarked third in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

Ach, enough, Brian, enough. You know fine well that was a contest between a determined Labour Party and their rivals on the Left, the Greens, who were discombobulated by their internal row over Zionism.

The Greens now face a challenge to prevent that controversy from becoming a source of permanent division.

For Labour, this contest was potentially troublesome. The by-election was caused by the precipitate exit of Sir Keir Starmer. Voters tend to shy away from parties who cause unnecessary elections.

Still, perhaps Labour would have won anyway. Perhaps the Burnham bounce floated south from Manchester. Perhaps the Greens are also-rans. Perhaps the voters are reverting to established politics.

The fundamental challenge which confronts the new leader of Scottish Labour

Andy Burnham slipped up on a new independence referendum - and SNP pounced

Stand by for radical reform of Scotland’s public services – starting with the NHS

This Labour contest is divisive and damaging.  But essential, says Brian Taylor

Certainly, the Conservatives, my main focus today, hope that partisan discourse is running on more familiar lines once more. Kemi Badenoch’s entire strategy is to revert to the political silos of yesteryear. To pit Thatcher against Foot or Kinnock.

I believe, contrary to my limp satire at the outset, that she is making progress in that regard. She is recreating the Conservative Party. Less trembling, more resolve.

I know, I know, the pit which engulfed the Tories is deep. The........

© Herald Scotland