AT AROUND 3am on February 24th The-resa May was woken by a text message that excited her so much she roused her husband. The Conservatives had just won Copeland, a Cumbrian constituency held by Labour since 1935. This is the first by-election since 1982 when the ruling party has taken a seat from the opposition. Hours later the prime minister flew up to address delighted Copeland campaigners, hailing the "astounding result" as proof that her party stood for "everyone across the whole country". The Tories are polling above 40%, and the latest icm survey gives them a near-record 18-point lead over Labour. Not since Tony Blair at his peak has a prime minister seemed so dominant.
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