Guardian - Labour suffers double blow in byelections: The government was dealt a double byelection humiliation early today after defectors defeated Labour in its former stronghold of Blaenau Gwent and Ukip pushed it into fourth place in Bromley and Chislehurst. The results will inevitably fuel mounting calls within the party for Tony Blair to step down as prime minister and allow Gordon Brown to take the helm.

Brown's not going to help matters; he's been hopelessly compromised for a long time now. Not that it matters. If Brown does somehow (finally) wangle his way onto No.10, he'll only be keeping the seat warm. Blair, "now the most unpopular Labour Prime Minister of modern times", has pretty much handed the next election to the Tories.

Labour's only shot at redemption? Justice need to be seen to be done.

Still entering data like mad, folks... but we've found a little bit of evidence of astroturfing during a routine name/spell-check, and we though we would share it with you...

The Labour Party employed a number of temporary staff for data entry (listed under Voter Research in the return), and a few of them reported to a woman by the name of Licell Mortimer - or, as she is named in some invoices - Leisel Mortimer.

In cases like this we do a quick check online to find what is most likely to be the correct spelling, and when doing so in this particular case, we found a letter from Chris Morgan, Mayor of North Tyneside, which would appear to suggest that he knows (or suspects) a little more than he is letting on....

North Tyneside Today (Letters) 13/02/2003: Leisel Mortimer puts a number of detailed and technical questions to me regarding the council's budget, which are very similar to questions raised by one of our local Labour MPs and some of our Labour councillors. I am sure this is just a coincidence.

The letter he refers to can be read on this page.

Incidentally, the relevant data-entry invoices from the return are all made out to: The Labour Party, Eldon House, Regent Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE3 3PW

We are sure this is just a coincidence.