In the first test of national opinion since last year's general election, no party could declare itself the victor in the English local elections, writes Frank Millar, London Editor
A "chill factor" entered British politics last night as the far-right British National Party won a third council seat in Burnley. As counting closed on the English local elections, a "monkey" and a "Robocop" sealed a series of embarrassments for Labour as it failed to win four of seven mayoral contests.
London's mayor, Mr Ken Livingstone, reacted to some potentially significant Conservative gains in Greater London with a warning that Labour could face carnage at the next general election if it did not turn its attention to the capital's growing problems.
The beginnings of a Conservative comeback in London saw the party reclaim control in Richmond-on-Thames, Barnet and Redbridge and Enfield - landmark scene of Labour's victory and Mr Michael Portillo's defeat in 1997. Labour's net loss of eight councils included Kingston-upon-Hull, heartland of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott.
There was embarrassment, too, as the Conservatives won the mayoral contest in the North Tyneside power base of the Transport Secretary, Mr Stephen Byers.
Overall, however, there was relief for Tony Blair's government, with Labour, on 33 per cent of the vote, trailing the Conservatives by just one point and still winning the largest number of seats in a first test of national opinion showing no great change in public opinion since last year's general election.
With just under 6,000 seats up for grabs in Thursday's contests, the Conservatives gained an extra 238 councillors, well short of the 500 gains experts suggested they would need as a statement of serious political revival. Having played down their expectations in advance, even they were forced to describe their showing as "solid" rather than spectacular.
While there was no question of any challenge, Conservative sources acknowledged that Mr Iain Duncan Smith's leadership of the Conservative Party would inevitably come under closer scrutiny amid continuing fears that he had so far failed to make any significant connection with the public.
The shadow Foreign Secretary and deputy Conservative leader, Mr Michael Ancram, described the party's performance as "workmanlike", insisting: "We are at a very early stage in building our policies and I think we can be satisfied."
The Labour Party chairman, Mr Charles Clarke, acknowledged Labour's mixed experience in its ongoing experiment with directly elected mayors. Former police chief Mr Ray "Robocop" Mallon, who championed US-style policing tactics, swept Labour aside, winning more than 60 per cent of the vote to become the first mayor of Middlesbrough.
Before that, local Labour MP Mr Peter Mandelson watched in amazement as Mr Stuart Drummond, better known as H'Angus the Monkey and mascot for the town's football team, beat the Labour candidate to become mayor of Hartlepool.
Mr Clarke described the BNP's success in Burnley as disappointing and said that party's candidates were only interested in "tearing apart" the communities they targeted. Lord Ouseley, former chairman of the Campaign for Racial Equality, said the party's success - its first in nine years - spelt "a severe chill factor" for local community relations. The BNP had only fielded 68 candidates and saw its challenge in Oldham and Sandwell fail. However its leader, Mr Nick Griffin, affirmed his party's "ultimate aim" to create an all-white society in Britain.