The electoral consequences of implementing austerity are becoming apparent to the Conservative party this morning after it received a pistol-whipping in local elections across the UK.
Elections have taken place across the country although counting in Scotland only began at 09:00. In the closely watched London Mayoral elections, counting was also due to start this morning but was delayed by a power cut - on the basis of polls yesterday London could be the Tories' main bright spot with Boris Johnson expected to beat the challenge of Ken Livingstone.
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David Cameron's Tories have lost nine councils with four (Great Yarmouth, Dudley, Plymouth and Harlow) falling directly under the control of Labour.
In England Labour gained a total of 22 councils, while holding the 28 they already controlled, in Wales the party took a further seven.
A further blow for the government was the rejection of a proposal for directly elected mayors in Coventry, Bradford, Nottingham and Manchester.
BS
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