Reformist Labour Mayor of London “Red” Ken Livingstone has lost to Conservative fop Boris Johnson in what is being reported as Labour’s worst local government elections since the 1960s. Livingstone, who gave London its successful Congestion Charge was expelled from Labour a few years ago, running as an independent, and re-admitted to the party recently. The balance of power in the London Assembly will be shared between the Lib Dems, Greens and British National Party which will make for an interesting term.

Could Livingstone’s Labour membership have been a curse at these local elections? Gordon Brown isn’t exactly the breath of fresh air that England had hoped for after Tony Blair’s leadership. Brown was very much the Costello to Blair’s Howard but actually got a chance to lead the nation. The Conservatives, under David Cameron, have consolidated since the last UK general election and the local government results put the Conservatives in good stead to win the next elections. Cameron, like Rudd, is relatively young and more moderate than many of those in his party. Will the next UK election be a repeat over Australia’s 2007 election?

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