Francis Elliott, Deputy Political Editor
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For David Cameron today is a day to celebrate. He will almost certainly travel north, probably to Bury, to make the point that for the first time in a generation the Conservatives are back as a proper national force.
He is of course hoping to return to London tonight to raise Boris Johnson’s hands in the air after victory in his epic battle to bundle Ken Livingstone out of City Hall.
With two-thirds of the results in this morning it is clear that the party is on course for a hat-trick few dared believe possible: gains of more than 200 seats, more than 42 per cent of the national vote and victory in London.
The capture of Southampton, Harlow and Maidstone councils all have significance to the national scene and will disturb Labour MPs in marginal seats in those areas.
Labour is now on course for a double whammy - mauled in the country and losing the capital’s mayoral race. A senior party figure has told The Times that it concentrated a “disproportionate” amount of its reduced resources on defending London and had left itself exposed to the hammering it took in councils elsewhere.
The political consequences of the row over the abolition of the 10p tax band are clear in that Labour has suffered its biggest setbacks in its own heartlands. The collapse to a projected 24 per cent of the national share - a humiliating third place for Gordon Brown - appears to be largely the result of the party’s core voters staying away.
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, is seeking to put the best gloss on what is broadly a disappointing night for his party. He gained Hull but not Oldham or Warrington and can only claim to have held steady.
For Mr Brown the relaunch starts today. He is clinging to the hope that Mr Livingstone may yet scrape home to spoil the Tory party. Tory insiders, however, believe that Mr Johnson is set to cap their night of triumph.

Sam Coates's blog about Westminster, politics and spin
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... great local election results!!! let us hope boris is confirmed as mayor of london. it would all be a wonderful breath of fresh air with real hope for the more changes in the future. we would all benefit from leaving nu-nu labour, comrade ken and stalingrad behind.
eric, london,
Just shows that the arrogance of George Brown has come back to bite him on the bum. Very hard. Did he really think we were all so stupid as not to spot the con trick with the basic rate tax deduction last year at the expense of the ten pence band? Too clever by half (not!)
Gabby, London, United Kingdom
If I were David Cameron, I would be hoping Livingstone just edges it. How will having Boris in charge of London help DC's careful 'credibility building' strategy? Watch it unravel as Boris hands gift after gift to Labour. . .
Zac Wright, Bury St Edmunds,
I lean to the left in politics. Labour MPs must get rid of Brown or they will go with him at the next election. They must go back to a soft socialist approach to issues & clean-out dead wood MPs for replacement with capable people to govern for the benefit of the whole country.
M Cochrane, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Dear god, Boris as mayor..
Owen, London, UK
and why the news black out on the BNP? Is this democracy?
Neil, london, UK
Labour should listen: we the Middle Class are sick of being disrespected in every aspect of life: higher tax,es, rubish collection fortnight, speed cameras, congestion charge, abbusive traffic wardens, criminal hostels built in residential areas, being treated as criminals for every minor thing...
George Kent, Feltham, UK
Perhaps now the Conservatives will insist on the end of postal voting on request, only with good reason.
R Mason, London, UK
Maybe Gordon Brown will now start to rethink his views on the interests of public servants and NHS employees. I don't imagine many of us would even think about voting labour, while he over rides decisions made by INDEPENDENT review bodies, to suit him. We are a significant proportion of the vote!
Michelle, Lincolnshire,
I'm not sure New Labour will even now will have got the message.
So here goes.
Immigration, immigration, immigration.
Get it now?.
calum mcneill, Portsoy, Scoyland
I think he just did.
jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA
And the left wingers still believe we won by default, they can never see the truth and never face up to reality. Wake up! The party's over for many years to come for Labour, thank god.
D Case, Newquay,
Boris has won!!! well lets hope so.
It will be pricelees to see the gollum like contortion on Livingstones face
simon, london, UK
How did the leader of the Labour Party expect to motivate the canvassers in the wards when he increases tax on the poor and reduces it for the comfortably off. My wife's tax on her April pay was double that in March. Harriet Harman was right when she said on the BBC this am, it was Gordon's fault.
Nick Kramer, London, England
David's no Maggy ... can he pick up the pieces?
Cassandra Troy, Athens, Greece