But those around Keir Starmer are not downhearted, they say, because it illustrates the depth of unhappiness with Boris Johnson's administration.
“It proves the polls are right. It is showing the mud is beginning to stick," says one of them.
They take comfort partly from the fact they expended very little effort or money on the seat, allowing the Lib Dems to declare themselves in the best position to challenge the Tories.
And partly they are encouraged because it shows that Johnson is not all-conquering even in Brexitland, with scandals from the Owen Paterson lobbying affair to the lockdown-busting parties in No 10 finally having the prized quality of “cut-through” to the electorate.
One senior Labour source puts it thus: “It was obvious that neither Bexley or North Shropshire were winnable so we basically decided to hold back, particularly in the latter.
This story is from the December 18, 2021 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 18, 2021 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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