There is a deluge of election material out there today; I would recommend www.ft.com for those looking for superior coverage.
Here is my succint summary:
SNP 10/10. Alex Salmond pulls off Holyrood majority, prompting imminent referendum on Scottish devolution and the resignation – by the autumn – of Iain Gray, Scotland’s Labour leader.
Conservatives 9/10. Any government – let alone one conducting large public spending cuts – is supposed to lose ground in mid-term polls. As of now the Tories have made 77 net gains and have won control of four councils. And are only around two points behind Labour overall. Bizarre. Bear in mind that they were already starting from a high base of councillors. Plus they won the AV argument, we presume.
Labour 6/10. Horrendous defeat in Scotland, great result in Wales (but no majority), only moderate progress in England (440 gains last time I looked, and 22 councils). Is this “mixed bag” good enough to sustain Miliband’s progress?
Lib Dems 3/10. Did anyone really expect any other result? (Currently down by around 400 seats). Still, the AV defeat will be bad for Nick Clegg. And the Lib Dems will be shocked at how unscathed their Tory partners have been. The phrase “human shield” will be used, repeatedly.
Plaid Cymru 3/10. A comprehensive retreat for the Welsh nationalists, in contrast to the Scots. The deputy leader lost her seat, Llanelli.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey