Labour's defeat placed a smarting expression on politicians faces up and down the country as they scrambled to consolidate using the same reasons for this embarrassing situation.

The Government believe that they can salvage a return from this but the reality is with a very unstable economy and erratic Labour Cabinet the chances are slim to impossible.

The fact is Labour have failed the people of this country and the next 12 to 18 months may well see the losses sustained this time around dwarfed by future rejections from voters who simply will not accept additional events accrued over this period.

If Gordon Brown remains as leader beyond the summer months then that will be through sheer luck or the continued stupidity of Labour's political members.

Either way he will go down in the history books as the Prime Minister who lost his job all because of 10p.

From: Rev Neil McNicholas, St Hilda's Parish, Whitby.

GORDON Brown's response to the local election results that his party "will listen and move forward" only confirms what we already knew, that to date the Labour Party hasn't been listening (or moving forward) in areas such as a referendum on Europe; tackling indiscipline and crime; the criminal justice system and sentencing; our failing education system; fuel prices; policing; target-setting; post office closures; public transport; the Millennium Dome; the cost of the Olympics; TV licensing; the invasion of Iraq; the 10p tax debacle; immigration policy; defence spending; farming policy; fishing quotas; 24-hour licensing and binge drinking; stealth taxes; nuclear power; failings in the NHS; MPs expenses, and on and on
and on.

And the fact that he can look at those election results and think he still has a mandate to govern, means he still isn't listening.

From: Malcolm Naylor, Grange View, Otley.

THE result of the local elections shows how little understanding the public have of how the Establishment manipulate the public for its own advantage.

They yo-yo between the Conservatives and Labour learning nothing from previous experience. Voting for the Conservatives just perpetuates the cycle of Establishment capitalism.

Labour should not only be defeated. It should be wiped out as an offence to socialism. It gives the illusion of socialism but is populated by Establishment politicians standing in the way of equality. Only when this charlatan party is obliterated will the public be forced to consider real alternatives.

Scotland and Wales have both learned this truth but England has a masochist attitude and hangs on to delusions of "Great Britain" ruled by the privileged. Even if this is the worst possible option.

If we are ever to have a fair and equal society, Labour must be seen for what it is. Just another part of the Establishment and putting power into the hands of the Conservatives is like supping with the devil.