UK: Labour suffers big council loss

Submitted by white down under:

Labour is on course to suffer its worst performance in at least 40 years in the local elections in England and Wales.

BBC research suggests the party has fallen into third place nationally with 24% of votes, with the Conservatives on 44% and Lib Dems on 25%.

So far Labour has lost more than 160 seats with the Tories gaining 147.

Conservative leader David Cameron called it a "big moment". Labour's chief whip Geoff Hoon insisted there was "no crisis" for Gordon Brown.

'Exceptional results'

The margin is similar to the drubbing received by Tory Prime Minister John Major in council elections in 1995, two years before he was ejected from Downing Street by Tony Blair.

RESULTS ROUND-UP
General turnout looks like it will be about 35%, similar to last year
Projected national vote share: Tories 44%, Lib Dems 25%, Labour 24%
Worst share of national vote for Labour in recent history
Surprise Tory win in Southampton and solid progress in north
Greens and BNP make little progress nationally, UKIP up 1

Elections expert John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said: "It looks quite possible that by the time all the results are declared some time on Friday afternoon, Labour will have suffered at least 200 net losses, widely regarded before polling day as the worst possible outcome that could befall the party."

So far the Tories have a net increase of more than 140 councillors and a 4% higher share of the national vote than at last year's local polls.

Such a share in a general election would have the potential to give the party a Commons majority of 138.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "These are exceptional results and this could be the lowest Labour share of the vote in the modern history of local elections¿ This is a big step forward."

'Not greatest night'

The Tories have gained control of several councils including Southampton, Bury, Harlow and Maidstone.

BBC analysis suggests Labour's vote appears to have fallen most heavily in its traditional heartlands - confirming MPs' fears the 10p tax row has damaged their core support.

Ministers were trying to put a brave face on the results and pledging to listen to voters' concerns.

Labour's Geoff Hoon played down the losses
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: "Nobody is going to pretend this is our greatest night.

"Generally I think that we would recognise that these elections have been conducted in the context of people feeling exposed and feeling anxious about the state of the economy and its impact on them."

Mr Hoon said: "There's no crisis. This isn't something that's going to affect the fundamental stability of the government.

"We have to go on making the difficult decisions the country requires."

Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy said he hoped for a "solid" set of results, adding: "It is not impossible because Labour I think are in very great difficulty."

Deputy leader Vince Cable said: "The important thing is that we've beaten Labour into third place."

London contest

More than 4,000 seats on 159 councils were up for grabs in Thursday's elections, as well as the London mayoralty and assembly.

All seats are up for election in the 22 Welsh unitary authorities.

The London mayoral result, due on Friday evening, looks extremely close, following a gruelling contest between Conservative Boris Johnson and Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone.

HAVE YOUR SAY
I voted for the Conservatives and I'm glad they won my local election
Matt, Bedworth
Send us your commentsTheir fate, along with that of Lib Dem contender Brian Paddick, will be closely watched for signs of how popular their parties are nationally.

Meanwhile, a BBC opinion poll suggests Tory leader David Cameron is seen as more effective than Mr Brown or Mr Clegg.

Of 1,005 people who took part in the poll, 68% said Mr Cameron was an asset to his party, compared with 43% for Mr Clegg and 42% for Mr Brown.

Mr Brown's reputation for economic competence has also taken a blow.

At this time last year 48% said that Labour could be trusted to run the country's economy, little different from the 53% who did so in 2002. But this year the figure has fallen to 32%.

However, only 36% said they trust the Conservatives to run the economy - 10 points down on last year, and little better than the figure of 32% recorded for the party in 2002.

Source Url: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7372860.stm

Posted By: JoAn
*AfricanCrisis Volunteer*

Date Posted: Monday 05-May-2008
Yes and this labour government still doesnt get it do they. Its not just about the 10% tax rate being abolished its about all the things these scottish people in power have done in the last ten years to destroy the united kingdom and sadly people are only just waking up to this. It looks like it maybe too late to do anything about it short of armed revolt. Lol the police and past gov's have disarmed us so that isnt gonna happen.

White English Guy
Walsall
England

Date Posted: Sunday 04-May-2008
The left-wing Labour Party have lost it mainly because they have failed in their job of making Britain better with ever-increasing taxes and wasted r¡tax cash on services that are being badly managed including the police. The key position, Mayor of London, has been won by Boris Johnson a Conservative and even the right-wing British National party is winning more seats on councils, all because the Labour Party is not listening to the people.

It happens to most political parties where they become arrogant and start dictating instead of administering. Boris Johnson has even been credited with saying that the statue of Mandela recently erected in London (describing him as a terrorist) must come down, but do not hold your breath. It may be defaced soon though with all the exessayers living in London, even if it is just with a big sign saying "Terrorist" around its neck.

But Labour has presided over the stupid banks and financial institutions giving almost unbridled credit to those who cannot now afford to pay for it, with house prices plummeting and credit card accounts causing bankruptcies for thousands. To have a healthy savings account is a good thing now but the pound is also sliding down in value as the previous value was based on false inflated property costs where people paid over the odds and many will have negative equity in their property.

To give an idea, in 1968 when I bought my first home after leaving the Royal Air Force at age 30, a 3-bed, with a garage and garden in a nice quiet cul-de-sac near Derby in the Midlands, I paid Pds. 1 750 for it. Two years ago, it was "valued" at Pds. 80 000. When I bought it on a mortgage/bond I was allowed three times my annual salary as a loan (My wife did not work as was usual in those days and I had a comfortable salary as an engineer working at Rolls Royce Aero-Engines), but until recently the Brit financial institutions were allowing up to five times the combined salaries of husband and wife (or more common now, partners where they are not married). The banks deserve all the grief they have generated but we have considered removing our savings and "putting it under a mattress" for fear of bank failures.

Brian & Beverlee Deller
Marbella
Spain