The Bradford blame game is being pushed further down the line from HQ. One rumour put to Guido is that the Labour Regional Team did not let on that things were not looking so good, though apparently the canvas returns were “on the face of it, ok.” Toby Perkins, the MP who was leading the charge, has gone from hero to zero in the eyes of the leadership apparently.

As one insider put it “this is what happens when you let MPs who did well in their own constituency run campaigns”. Apparently Iain McNicol is looking rather pasty this morning…

UPDATE:

Snr Lab figs: 'dismayed' if anyone close to leader blames @tobyperkinsmp for byelection defeat. Perkins appt'd late as campaign head

— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) March 30, 2012

They should get upset then.