THE TELEGRAPH: Exclusive: Labour set to lose Copeland by-election, party’s own canvass returns reveal

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Prof Robert Ford, who teaches political science at Manchester University, said losing Copeland to the Tories would be remarkable in modern political history. 

He said: “It would be extremely noteworthy for at least three reasons. Firstly, we know the extremely well-established dynamic in by-elections is for the governing party to lose ground.

“Secondly, no government has ever picked up a seat in a by-election for 35 years and it’s only happened twice in 60 years. So it’s extraordinary for that perspective. 

“And then there’s the seat in question. Copeland has been Labour since the 1930s. To not only lose a seat but lose one which has been in your party’s column for generations would be a political earthquake.”