Losses in the heartlands and there may be more defeats

The scale of the backlash against the Government became clear this morning THE SCALE of the backlash against the Government became clear today after Labour lost a string of previously rock-solid councils.

With half of the results in, Labour had lost control of eight local authorities, shedding more than 200 councillors in the process.

The heavy defeats included the key marginals of Hastings and Ipswich as well as the former stronghold of Bassetlaw.

And the drubbing could get worse with party bosses braced for possible defeat in the battlegrounds of Birmingham and Newcastle.

In a major upset, the party saw Swansea fall to no overall control after a surge by the Liberal Democrats and the nationalists Plaid Cymru. Labour now holds 31 seats, down from 45 in 1999, with the Liberal Democrats on 19, up 11. The Tories are unchanged on four.

"This is a shock result for Labour," said Chris Lines, chief executive of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. "They have done appallingly badly." Labour's mid-term battering was not confined to Wales. Losses included the bastions of Burnley and St Helens.

Labour's woes in Wales extended to Cardiff where the party was in danger of losing control to the Liberal Democrats.

The party lost control of the former mining area of Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire for the first time since 1979 after the Conservatives gained seven seats.

It was a similar story in previously impregnable Labour St Helens, where the council lost nine seats to the Lib-Dems and Tories.

Elsewhere, Labour control of Bury, Greater Manchester, hangs in the balance as a recount takes place in three seats. However, there was some solace for Mr Blair as it gained Stoke-on-Trent and tightened its grip in Barrow-in-Furness.

The Tories seized control of seven authoritiesincluding Tamworth, Rossendale and Swindon.

In a significant breakthrough, they wrested control of Trafford town hall - suggesting the party is making a comeback in urban areas. Trafford was regarded as a key marginal. In a disastrous performance, Labour shed 11 seats.

There were mixed fortunes for the Lib-Dems. Despite winning 11 per cent more votes than in 2001, the party lost control of Norwich and Cheltenham.

The party's local government spokesman Ed Davey put on a brave face, pointing to gains in places such as Pendle in Lancashire. "Overall, this is a fabulous result. In the northern cities, we are challenging Labour in their major strongholds."

The British National Party failed to gain ground in its North-West heartlands. The UK Independence Party celebrated its first local election victories, winning seats in Hull and Derby.