Even though their last local elections were poor, everyone expected Labour to lose council seats. They feared a loss of up to 100. 100 was thought to be wearable. 150 disastrous. 200 was unthinkable.

Their actual loss was 434, an astonishingly bad performance, worse than achieved by Thatcher at her lowest, Major at his lowest, Blair at his lowest.

The furthest a party has ever been behind in the locals, and come back to win a general, was 11%. Labour can in an astonishing 20% behind the Tories.

On these numbers it looks effectively impossible for Brown to win the next election. They will struggle to keep the Conservative majority below 100!

Truly an astonishing result.