The Will Rhodes Portmanteau

The Labour government has been losing ground to the other parties in the British parliament for some time. Yesterday, May 1st they lost even more.

In the local council elections Labour lost more than 160 councillors. But why?

Labour came to power in 1997 with a land-slide victory, they have gone on to win more general elections even though, mid-term, they have done badly in the local elections. Is the local election now seen as a protest vote against the national government? It seems so.

David Cameron, the leader of the national opposition crowed about yesterdays results:

“I think these results are not just a vote against Gordon Brown and his Government. I think they are a vote of positive confidence in the Conservative Party.”

I have to disagree - the Tories should be bouncing around just waiting to take the national election when it comes, yet it isn’t. Yes, it does take some delight in seeing Labour being hit in such a way - even the LibDems are getting in on the act with Labour falling to over-all third. Yet, is it that Labour have been hit by an economic cycle?

Brown tried to downplay the impact of Labour’s bad performance blaming them on “difficult economic circumstances,” UK’s Press Association reported.

PA reported the PM saying he was “sad” for all the Labour councilors who had lost their seats in the election.

“I think people want to be assured, and indeed people are questioning and want to be assured, that the government will steer them through these difficult times,” the agency reported.

That certainly could be the case - and many people are disgruntled with the current government - and they are making their protest know in no uncertain terms.

The real test, as always, will come when Gordon Brown calls a general election - we will really know then if the British people want to see a Tory government returned to power - that will be a fight to watch.