Post Election

Looking back at my original estimate about the Local Election results I clearly underestimated the level of anti-labour voters on the doorsteps. Well done to Hafod and Ian who had a better judge of the vote than me.

Here’s my quick appraisal of how it actually went.

Labour:

Let’s not beat about the bush it was a disaster. Much worse than possibly even the gloomiest Labour supporters had predicted. Their vote collapsed in many areas which could lead to the potential loss of Westminster seats in the next election. Anyone who would have predicted a few years back that Labour would potentially be in a position to lose control of Caerphilly, Newport, Flintshire, Merthyr, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent let alone their loses elsewhere in the country would have been a very rich man today. Serious questions must be addressed if they are to recover in time for the general election.

Plaid:

Plaid will be disappointed in the fact that two very able and effective operators in Dafydd Iwan and Richard Parry Hughes have been lost. Clearly Llais Gwynedd had an impact and Plaid must recover from the fact that they have lost overall control in Gwynedd.

However, the media seems not to have taken the real picture in. Although there were certainly negatives Plaid remain by far the largest political party in Gwynedd. They have also made many gains leading to a great number of increases throughout Wales securing its position as the second largest party in the country. The party will be happy that whilst its One Wales coalition partners Labour have taken heavy losses Plaid have emerged unscathed and can play that as a confirmation that it has performed well at the Assembly. The BBC has even reported that the party is in negotiations to take part in coalitions in as many as half of the councils in Wales.

Conservatives:

An additional 63 councillors is an excellent return for a part of the UK that has maybe not been hit by the Cameron factor as much as most. Added to which Boris took London and the election period was an excellent one. The fact the Tories could even be in line to play a part in the coalition deal in Torfaen must send a huge warning to Labour about the eroding base of their support.

Lib Dems:

The Lib Dems endured a massive campaign against them by the Labour party and so will be delighted to have retained Swansea and even added an additional 21 councillors. They may have lost Bridgend but have come out the other end relitivly unscathed. The strategic victories they have won in areas where every councillor will count suggest they will have a voice in a number of council coalitions.

Final Thoughts

All in all it was a travesty for the Labour party that have suffered a terrible loss with all the other parties reaping the benefits. After such a poor Assembly election and Gordon Brown seemingly steamrolling his way to defeat at the next general election it will take more than a pamphlet from Huw Lewis to sort this mess out.