There is no way I’m going to stay all night watching all the Englishandwelsh local election results dribble in, and endure the likes of the BBC’s very English journalist Jeremy Vine doing witty political sketches in a broad Texan accent.

But with only around 45 of 159 councils declared, it looks as if the Labour Party is in for a hell of a kicking tonight. The Tories are picking up seats in working-class Labour strongholds, and the Liberals look set to lose badly under the brand new leadership of Nick Calamity Clegg. The political gallows are no doubt being re-erected as I type.

London? Well who gives a flying fuck about London, outside of the city? But Boris Johnson – useless wastrel tosspot though he is – could well be the next mayor. If he wins, many liberal-left commentators will on Saturday morning be wondering how to spin themselves out of the huge hole they have created for themselves.

That’s me done. It’s 01:30 and I’m off to bed. Whatever happens by sunrise, the sky will not fall.

Update: Friday 2 May @ 14:55

It appears that the liberals have not done badly, but then neither have they done well. The BBC reports that Clegg’s campaign strategists have done an excellent job in lowering expectations.

Otherwise, it is as I write above – the political map of England is looking very blue. In Wales the pseudo-nationalists have picked up a few seats, but lost Gwynedd to “No overall control”. I don’t know the details, but it would seem that independents and Plaid Cymru defectors (e.g., Llais Gwynedd) are picking up seats all over the place. If so, this serves the Blaid right for failing to provide political leadership in western and northern Wales.

Update: Friday 2 May @ 18:15

Plaid Cymru actually gained 33 seats, which is considerably more than a few.