Many other commentattors have noted that blair got he slap on the wrist he so badly needsd yesterday/thursday. i agree with them – the fact that labours whopping majoriy has been slashed is that good in that blair can no longer every bill of his to pass aand thus he has to deal with parliament more. this means he’s more accountable, so no more stupid wars. He’ll now struggle to get through legislation like ID cards and tuition fees etc.

So, the tories did’t get in AND blair got an arse kicking he badly needed. A fairly good resuklt, if unsurprising. All we need do now is sit back and watch the tories once again reduce themselves to dust by in-fighting. And could this mean the return of three-party politics, as kennedy predics? i think it s likely.