Labour achieves worst performance since 1968???

Compared with Manchester there is little doubt that Labour has had another meltdown across the country.

As it stands at the moment the National vote equivilents are that the Tories have 44%,which must be higher than their expectations.The Lib Dems have 25% and Labour have been pushed into third with 24%.A repeat in a general election would see the Conservatives have a majority of 138.

Fraser Nelson reckons its the worst showing since 1968 when

the rest of the world was exploding in socialist riots and free love, the Tories took Hackney and Islington with 60% of the London vote – Labour had 28%.

A quick synopis of the results so far.With 99 councils having declared Labour has lost 1454 seats,the Tories have gained 144 and the Lib Dems 10.

That swing constituency Bury has fallen to the Tories as well as Southampton another election battleground as well as Elmbridge, Nuneaton and Bedworth in the Midlands, and Harlow.

Predictions are that the total gains could well reach 200 seats by the time all 159 councils declare and then of cause we have the London Mayoral racewhich is expected this evening.

All the commentators are saying the ame thing

It is a massive rebuff to Gordon Brown on his first test at the polls as Prime Minister.says Adam Boulton

Bad for Labour. Very bad. And with worse likely to follow. For once there can be no spinning, no rival interpretations, no debate about what local elections results mean.

says Nick Robinson

And the recrimintions have started

Jonathan Isaby tells us

Party vice-chairman Stephen Ladyman fired a pre-emptive salvo aimed at backbench malcontents like Charles Clarke.
“Engineering an ego-free politician would be a triumph for biotechnology but it just hasn’t happened yet,” the Kent MP told Labour ginger group, Progress. “If influential figures in the party can’t express their ideas in a constructive tone then we have to isolate them and make sure the public understand they speak for no-one but themselves.”

What happens next ?asks Martin Bright

So what would be so awful about the Tories getting back into power?" Far beyond the Tory heartlands, this question is being voiced without shame by swathes of Middle England - voters who switched to Labour in 1997 and stayed on board because the idea of the Tories in government was laughable.

Over at Sky news,David Cameron tells the world that this is a big turning point for the party

"Voters see a party changed for the better, united with a strong team of leaders.
"They are looking to us to speak out on the issues they care about. This is a very big moment for the Conservative Party.

But makes the point

"But nobody should think we can win elections only on the back of a failing government,"

Harriet Harman meanwhile is disappointed but maintains that the Tories don't have any alternatves.I am sure that this argument will run and run over the weekend.