While the polls were still open in Bradford early yesterday evening, broadcasters were notified that Ed Miliband would be doing a walk about outside the City Hall at 07:45 this morning. Funnily enough it didnt happen. Fingers of blame from high up in the party are already being pointed at the General Secretary. Iain McNicol told the leader’s office to prepare for a comfortable victory and told staffers not to go to Bradford and instead focus on campaigning in London. Team Ed are furious with McNicol for predicting victory so confidently earlier in the week and thus destroying any chance to do expectation management briefing.

The normally loyal Labour bloggers are not happy and speaking to Labour staffers this morning, loyal to both Milibands, there seems to be an acceptance that Ed’s problems run deeper than most thought. A defeat after “this week’s circus” and while ten points ahead has sent a mighty shockwave right through the professional party.