Voting - some of the results

We now have voting by post. Sooner or later somebody is going to wise up and realize that voting via the computer is the best thing since sliced bread! All we will then need is another key which says deselect!

As I write this blog 29 of the 34 councils have declared their results. Conservative have gained 208 councillors, giving them a total so far of 1295. They have gained control of 6 more councils. Lib Dems have lost 12 councillors giving them a total so far of 430. Other parties have gained 25 councillors, giving them a total so far of 430 councillors. Labour have lost 228 councillors giving hem a total so far of 146 councillors. They have also lost overall control of its four remaining English county councils - Staffordshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire to the Conservatives, and Nottingham to no overall control.

Bristol seems to be the one ray of sunshine for the Lib Dem's. They gained 4 councillors giving them a grand total of 36 councillors in all and for the first time in decades overall control! Conservatives gained 4 councillors giving them a grand total of 17 councillors, whilst Labour lost 8 councillors giving them a final total of 16 councillors. Labour had held power here from 1995 to 2002 then there was no overall control until today.

Well Gordon Brown has finally managed to reshuffle his cabinet (with some notable exceptions) and is still hanging on to power by the skin of his teeth. It can hardly be called a reshuffle when over half the cabinet are still in the same jobs and there are only six new faces. One wonders how much longer he can maintain his grip on his MP's.