It was not the electoral meltdown that some Labour strategists had conveniently predicted but the loss of 309 councillors, 18 councils and third place in share of the vote with 26 per cent was nonetheless a dismal defeat for Tony Blair's party.
Labour's pain was heightened by the realisation that the clear victors were David Cameron's Conservatives, who won 299 seats with 40 per cent of the vote, their best result since 1992, and sweeping gains in London.
