A successful by-election, talk of tax cuts in the upcoming pre-Budget report and an (admittedly minute) improvement in the opinion polls. As the wind of political fortune once again changes direction, could we see not one, but three elections come June 2009: : local, European and parliamentary?

Peter Hoskin of the Spectator notes that following Glenrothes, Ladbrokes cut the odds on a Labour victory at the next election. While the bookies still favour a 2010 election, between now and June next year there will be a Budget, a new parliamentary year, with new parliamentary bills, and, just maybe, the beginnings of an economic recovery as the effects of the bank bailout and tax cuts trickle through. If Gordon Brown is astute enough to capitalise on good fortune when it comes (and his reaction to Glenrothes suggests he is), next year could see the greatest political comeback since, well, Peter Mandelson.