Ed Miliband has offered qualified support for Louise Mensch as Labour launched their campaign in the Corby by-election triggered by Mensch's surprise resignation earlier this week.
Just three days after Mensch sensationally revealed she was quitting, the Labour leader headed to the small town of Thrapston not far from Corby, to formally launch Labour's campaign.
Unfortunately Ed Miliband didn't seem to know where he was, suggesting he was in "Frampton", or possibly "Brampton". Neither of which are villages in the constituency. It's a rare gaffe for Miliband, who used to be disaster-prone but who has managed to draw a line under a string of presentational disasters over the course of this year.
Mensch's seat is an odd demographic mix, with the largely Labour-voting former steel town of Corby surrounded by picturesque countryside villages where people tend to vote Tory. Mensch secured a majority of just over 2,000 in 2010. On national polls Labour can be expected to win the by-election, but turnout will be critical in securing this.
Speaking to Channel 4 News "I think it is totally understandable," saying Mensch had "unique family reasons" for wanting to stand down as an MP. "We wish her well," said Miliband.
One lady told Michael Crick that "I feel sorry for Cameron because Tory voters are so fed up with Mensch", suggesting the outgoing MP's ego was the most important thing to her.
Mensch: Off to New York to be with her husband
The Tories have yet to reveal their candidate in the by-election, Labour selected Andy Sawford as theirs some time ago.