"Maybe we won't be making an advance as fast as we may want". Iain Duncan Smith has just exposed the anxiety that tonight's results will provoke for the Tories even though they're sure to be the overall winners.
The north west is a key target for them. They've made progress tonight - in Chester, for example - but not as much as they would have hoped - in Bury and Crewe and Nantwich, for example.
Update - you can now watch the Iain Duncan Smith interview by clicking here.
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Comments
Like many, the Tories will look at these results nationally rather than locally, as this is how it will be reported in the press tomorrow.
It is a pity, however, because each region does face its particular issues and that is what should be reflected by the vote - not a national message.
Nice to see IDS, however. Put on weight round the gills a little?
Did anyone manage to stay awake through IDS? :-p Good questions on Nick's part, suppose it all stems down to style over substance.
Chester was a good result for the Tories, but, it's really the only one that has stood out (at least for me). Most the seats they seem to have made gains on were safe councils....has the push for green really worked? Will it work in the generals if it doesn't really work now?
IDS can see what we can all see.
That Virtual Reality house you had on earlier won't be getting it's roof later today or any time soon.
Cameron is aiming everything at the green/global warming vote, and after most of the UK spending most of April sat in the garden as if it's mid July hasn't done him any favours...
Seeing as Chester has, as the 91Èȱ¬ website claims "socially and economically" historic links with Alun & Deeside... the Conservative gain in Chester should be interesting..... to see what happens in the AM elections.
*I voted Tory - (anything but Liberals - whom are all talk!), much because the Tories on most of the issues have come back to centre... which they certainly needed too, but the key issue I know for people in Deeside seems to be uncontrolled immigration.... a national issue causing in Deeside as I hear -something of "a protest" vote away from Labour, understandable since it's a (former?) objective-1 EU investment area*
Therefore doubly interested to see this result... but also since I don't wish to see the Liberal-Democrats with any sort of deciding voice in anything.... all good at debate - and highly vocal. But I feel couldn't be trusted to manage "a p**s-up in a brewery"! Infact immigration in my view would get worse under them!
Do they mind you tapping away on the keyboard in the corner while they are all talking!
Yes they don't seem to be doing as well as expected although North Warwickshire gain for conservative is the first time in history it hasn't been labour or NOC. Dates back to 1973. Surprised you didn't pick up on that in the coverage of that result, stands out for me as a big surprise gain.
Nick, just point out to Teresa May that the "churning" in local councils that are because of local issues rather than national trends is what is MEANT to be happening!
I wonder if national MPs actually care about local issues sometimes!
Nick just highlighted a very high (7%) rate of spoiled papers in one of the Scottish seats. I noticed the same in one of the first declared. I think that Nick rather 'smeared' the much, much more democratic system the Scots are lucky enough to have though (and the intelligence of Scottish voters!) when he attributed this rate to the system and people not knowing how to fill in the voting form! As David has had to explain with some of the 'swing' graphs, the Scottish Socialists are not standing in the FPTP section but ARE in the 'top ups': looking at the figures, I think you might find the 'spoiled' papers in the FPTP counts are Scottish Socialists with no candidate to vote for.
Do the Tories still have Tatton?!?! Hope so!
Interesting start of the night for the conservatives.... Be interesting to see how things progress, if my eyes stay open.
Do you think perhaps these are mainly protest votes against Labour? Or is David Camerons Labourish rhetoric working for them?
I just wonder how many councils would change hands if all the seats were up for election?
I stood for Lab in plymouth in 97 and got the best ever result in the top tory ward, a decade is a very very very long time in politics!
Can anyone explain why all the minor parties are losing votes?
What must be remembered in Bury is that Alistair Burt and David Sumberg won the Westminister seats of Bury North and Bury South with comfortable majorities in 1987 and 1992. This is despite the council being Labour controlled since 1986. The Tories are now the largest party in the council and so if they can win the Westminster seats whilst Labour controlled the council surely they can win them now.