People are asking why the Tories delayed announcing the resignation of Irvine Edwards until it was too late to organise an election for a replacement. Is it because they don’t have another Tory willing to stand? Is it because they think the voters of Earnshaw Bridge won’t give them another chance? Or is it that, in their heart of hearts, they are far more interested in what happens in Penwortham, Longton and Hutton than they are about Leyland?