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Labour takes beating in local elections
It's shaping up to be the worst election result for Labour in 40 years and the Conservatives even seem to be winning in Labour strongholds. If this kind of win happened at a general election the Conservatives would have a huge majority.
Sky News are reporting that Boris Johnson is the bookies favourite for London Mayor. The Guardian suggests that a high turnout of voters could see Ken Livingstone hold onto the job.
Reuters report that after two-thirds of the results counted from local councils in England and Wales, BBC predictions put the Conservatives on 44 percent and Labour only one point behind the Liberal Democrats who are on 25%.
(This post will be edited as the results come in. Last updated: 13:17 BST)
Check the links for latest results.:
BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7378788.stm
Sky:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1314749,00... It's shaping up to be the worst election result for Labour in 40 years and the Conservatives even seem to be winning in Labour st... more -
'Gordon will lose to Cameron' - Blair
Gordon Brown's leadership was in turmoil last night after claims that Tony Blair does not believe he is capable of beating David Cameron and winning the next election.
The humiliating charge from Blair's former fundraiser and confidant Lord Levy came as Labour MPs pleaded for Brown to stay away from the campaign trail in this week's critical London mayoral elections for fear of wrecking Ken Livingstone's chances. Levy's intervention will confirm fears that Brown is becoming an electoral liability.
Even though Blair last night issued a statement categorically denying the claims and insisting he did believe Labour could win under his successor, there was consternation in Downing Street.
In his memoirs, serialised today in the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Levy writes that Blair 'told me on a number of occasions he was convinced Gordon "could never beat Cameron"'. The peer added in an interview yesterday that Blair was 'disappointed to see Labour's slide' under his successor, with an ICM poll of marginal seats showing yesterday that on current polling trends 131 Labour MPs could lose their seats, handing David Cameron a solid majority.
Brown had been 'indecisive' and was 'not honest' about the reasons he failed to hold an election last autumn, Levy said. His book also claims Brown knew about the controversial secret loans from Labour donors at the heart of the 'cash for honours' allegations - but also blames Blair for the decision to start taking loans from donors, saying that he himself had been strongly against it. Levy also reveals that Blair decided which donors got peerages.
Levy was arrested during the inquiry into whether peerages were effectively 'sold' to Labour party donors, but did not face charges.
Levy said Blair still believed he could have won a fourth election, adding: 'But Gordon? "He can't defeat Cameron," Tony told me. Blair believed Cameron had major strengths - political timing, a winning personality and a natural ability to communicate to Middle England that Gordon would be unable to match.'
Blair's spokesman said the former PM 'doesn't agree with the views attributed to him by Lord Levy and fully believes Labour with Gordon Brown's leadership can win the next election.'
Levy's disclosures will fuel growing panic in Labour ranks, with ministers now openly discussing whether Brown could be persuaded to stand aside if Labour does badly in Thursday's London and local elections. His prospects were not helped by an oil refinery strike in Scotland prompting panic-buying of petrol and fears of rationing yesterday. Gordon Brown's leadership was in turmoil last night after claims that Tony Blair does not believe he is capable of beating David ... more
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Local Elections
