| Uk Local Elections, 2004 |
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ABOUT THE ELECTIONS The Councils of all the Metropolitan Borough s in England and all the Counties And County Boroughs Of Wales were all up for re-election, along with many other District and Unitary Authorities throughout England. No local elections were held in Scotland . They were the first since the election of Michael Howard to the leadership of the Conservative Party . Howard was looking for a good result in the election to confirm that the Conservatives were back on the road to being able to seriously consider winning the Next General Election . Early results confirmed that the Labour Party was having a bad time. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said that, "Iraq was a cloud, or indeed a shadow, over these elections. I am not saying we haven't had a kicking. It's not a great day for Labour". However the Conservatives were not making many of the gains that would have indicated a complete change of electoral fortune. According to BBC projections, the equivalent national share of the vote would be 38% to the Conservatives, 29% to the Liberal Democrats and 26% to Labour. For one of the two major parties to come third in local elections was unheard of in the post- 1945 period, let alone for a governing party with such a large majority to come third. Even in the North , Labour's traditional heartland, Labour did not do too well, losing control of Doncaster , Leeds , Newcastle and St Helens . However, they did pick up several councils, notably Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taff from Plaid Cymru in Wales . Despite an increase in their vote and number of councillors, the Liberal Democrats saw a net loss of councils to NOC. The loss to the Conservatives of Eastbourne was in a single-seat by-election. This was partially offset by victories in Newcastle and Pendle . RESULTS
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