Many commentators report that Tory and Labour ‘both did badly’ Not quite. Labour had a disappointment, failing to make the traditional gains of an opposition party, ending with a net loss of 82 seats. The Tory party had a disaster with a net loss of an eye popping 1335 councillors. Moreover most, but not all, of the contests were in traditional Tory heartlands. The Shires are Tory bedrocks and Labour is much thinner on the ground.
Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats were triumphant, gaining an astonishing 700 seats. They won control 10 new councils, while Labour lost 6 and the lost Tories 44. The Greens did well too, adding 194 councillors across the country. Interestingly all the Brexit supporting Unionists lost seats in Northern Ireland. Not good news for the DUP and their allies.
What this all does tell you is the people are fed up with endless Brexit and the inability of the two main parties to unite individually within their own ranks and reach across the House to find a compromise solution to the Brexit impasse. The massive turn around in the fortunes of the Lib Dems, who are unambiguously against leaving the EU and in favour of going back to the people with a confirmatory ‘People’s Vote’, tells you something, if you think about it, which is very big. Very big indeed.
Finally, do not extrapolate too much from these figures into the future. Two thirds of the electorate did not vote. When the time comes for them to do so, it is Labour which traditionally gains the most from a high turnout.