Hmm...another by-election. If we lose this one we really are in trouble!

Not an ideal time for another by-election, but hopefully it looks like a safe seat, and conversely a good solid win could help settle nerves and steady the ship.

On the other hand, a win with a massively reduced majority will make everyone look to their own constituencies and predict similar reductions...

My guess is that Labour will just hold the seat, but with 30-40% of the vote.  However if all the opposition parties campaign on the basis that this is a chance to "send a message to Gordon Brown" there is a chance that Labour will lose.  Which would surely force Brown to follow Wendy Alexander's fine example??

Are the last two comments actually suggesting that there is a scandal behind this resignation on health grounds? If so can you please put up or shut up? Apologising on your way out?

MPs who are too ill to do their job, and whose doctors say they will not be fit within a reasonable time, are surely right to resign. They owe that resignation to themselves, to their families and to their constituents. The Whips (who to their credit have said nothing (or nothing openly) on this occasion, who nowadays usually oppose such resignations tooth and nail are damaging the reputation of politics. Losing a by-election is no more than a week's bad news, It should not worry any Government with the sort of majority Labour now has.

On this occasion, the resigning MP has every reason to think that he is handing the party  a chance to demonstrate solidly that it can hold and win seats. Over 60% of the vote with the opposition split and no one else over 20% is as solid as it gets.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1030240/Marshall-shock-resignation-rumours-expenses.html

The FT says: One senior Labour MP said on Sunday he hoped Glasgow voters would deliver a knockout blow to Mr Brown. “The cabinet seems to have lost its nerve in telling him to go,” the MP said. “Maybe the voters will do it for them.”

So he does not have problems with his expenses then, like the idea of him resigning because of ill health and you lot telling the disabled and the sick it's time you worked, ill health to Labour means working on reduced hours or adaption perhaps he needs a wheelchair and carry on, do not forget under New Labour people with cancer who are deemed able to work must now work until six month before death.

I do not think he is going to die within six months is he.

The two faces of Labour sorry new Labour.

"A Labour MP used almost £500,000 of taxpayers' money over six years to help run an office from his home which was staffed by his wife.
David Marshall, 67, who has quit to spark the Glasgow East by-election on July 24, used the expenses to pay for a constituency office and staff.
But Mr Marshall's office was in his semi-detached Glasgow home and he employed his wife Tina as his secretary. It is also believed he paid his daughter Christina to work from his home from the same pool of money.
A Commons spokesman said MPs can use their home as an office but only claim for additional costs like 'extra phone lines, heating and lighting'.
From 2001-2007, Mr Marshall claimed £91,000 incidental expenses provision, which is used to pay for constituency offices, plus £400,000 for staff and £11,000 for their travel expenses.
He listed only one member of staff on the Commons register - Christina Marshall. It was unclear if this was his wife Tina or daughter Christina.
Neighbours and political sources said his wife had worked for him - with Labour ex-Minister Brian Wilson saying that Mrs Marshall had worked for her husband as a constituency secretary.
Mr Marshall is said to be suffering clinical depression. Party sources said he felt 'under pressure' over the expenses allegations.
The family refuses to comment on why he spent so much on office expenses, why he ran an office from home and what family members were on his payroll."

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/.....+taxpayers'+money+running+office+from+home+staffed+by+wife/article.do