Jeremy Corbyn has had a terrible 10 days – and overnight things got steadily worse for the Labour leader.
Yes, the party held onto two safe seats in Westminster by-elections.
Yes, the losses in English councils haven’t been as great as expected.
But – following last year’s near wipe-out in Scotland at the general election – Labour suffered another drubbing north of the border.
Mr Corbyn had of course set himself up to fail in the run-up to Super Thursday by suggesting his party would not relinquish any seats in the local elections.
The comments – which he backtracked from yesterday – came amid the damaging anti-Semitism row that is engulfing the party and isn’t going away any time soon.
An aide had already been forced to clarify they should not have been interpreted as a prediction, stressing Mr Corbyn had actually meant Labour was not “in the business” of losing seats.
A ray of sunshine looks to be coming in the form of Carwyn Jones – on course to remain first minister in Wales.
And there could be other good news later today with Sadiq Khan expected to take back City Hall in London and replace Boris Johnson as mayor.
But – with accusations of a failed first test already flying around – it may not be enough to save Mr Corbyn long-term.
Last year’s general election defeat was on Ed Miliband; this time it’s his successor’s head potentially on the chopping block.
The moment – however devastating – may still not be ripe for a coup, however.
Rumours of a challenge by moderates within the party were brewing earlier this week.
Veteran Labour MP Margaret Hodge has been tipped as a stalking horse candidate to clear the field for a new leader in the coming months, although she has declined to comment on the claim.
But other reports have suggested Mr Corbyn could retaliate by scaling back his campaigning for the Remain camp ahead of the EU referendum.
Allies said this would deter a leadership challenge on the basis keeping the UK in the EU is seen as more important than who is at the helm of the party.
Many view Mr Corbyn and his supporters in the unions as significant in securing support for staying in the EU among left-wing voters.
So – taking all that into account – what’s the outlook for the leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition?
Clearly, things aren’t looking rosy.
The proximity of the EU referendum may win him a temporary stay of execution, but longer-term his leadership is less secure.
A coup might not be on the cards just yet, but come June 24, the shackles can come off.
As for Kezia Dugdale – who lost in Edinburgh Eastern, but has been returned as an MSP on the Lothian list – she has repeatedly stressed that the buck stops with her in Scotland.
Perhaps preparing for the worst, on Wednesday she acknowledged the anti-Semitism row had “unquestionably” had an impact on the Holyrood campaign.
That said, her party’s disappointing show means she too is likely to face questions as the dust settles.
