The only good news for the Tories …

… is not actually as good as it first looks. So Boris Johnson, who polled better than his Conservative Party, beat Ken Livingstone, who polled worse than his Labour Party, retains his position as Mayor of London. Yet Boris’s scope for manoeuvre is less than much of the media has highlighted. But first the big picture about Thursday’s local elections in Britain.

As explained here:

  • Taking the elections as a whole, Labour won 38% of the votes, while Conservatives fell to 31% with Lib Dems on 16%, and others 15%.
  • Taking the elections as a whole, Labour has gained 823 councillors seats, while the Conservatives have lost 405 and the Lib Dems have lost 336.
  • Labour has gained control of 22 local councils and held the 39 they already held.
  • The Conservatives lost control of 10 councils overall – with Great Yarmouth, Dudley, Plymouth and Essex marginal Harlow falling to Labour.
  • In Wales, Labour has had its best results since 1996 taking control of 10 out of the 21 councils.
  • In Scotland, Labour won an overall majority in Glasgow, denying the SNP one of its top targets and gained 58 councillors overall.

So what has David Cameron got to be pleased about? Well, his old Eton School and Oxford University chum Boris Johnson – who might yet succeed him as Conservative Party leader – won the London mayoralty, but …

As set out here, Labour won four more seats on the London Assembly taking their total to 12. The Conservative total fell to nine. What does this mean? It means that Boris Johnstone can only get a budget through the Assembly with the two Lib Dems and the two Greens all voting with the Conservatives. Prepare for new fun and games at County Hall …


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