Rarely can an election night have produced so many different stories. We are used to political leaders claiming triumph for their own party, whatever the outcome; on this occasion such claims are justified.

The most relieved man today must be Conservative Party leader William Hague. Most commentators agreed he needed to win at least 1,000 seats to feel safe. In the event, the Tories gained well above that figure.

That result puts any talk of a leadership challenge to one side - at least until the European elections next month.

Mr Hague said today that the results showed that Labour did not "walk on electoral water". But Tony Blair's party is still swimming strongly.

Labour have become the largest force in the new Scottish parliament. And Mr Blair will be happy with the council results. They are the best for a ruling party in mid-term in living memory.

The Liberal Democrats also had a good night. They could not repeat their extraordinary success of four years ago, but did manage to wrest control of Sheffield.

This mixed bag of results was reflected in North Yorkshire. In York, Labour still have a mandate - but only just. They retain control of the council by the slimmest of margins. If another seven people in Holgate ward had voted Liberal Democrat, they would have won another seat and toppled Labour from overall control.

The Lib Dems can take consolation from the fact that, in what was by and large a clean fight, they gained four seats. And the city Labour Party, having celebrated a remarkable victory, must be aware that the electorate sent a warning shot across their bows.

It was also a night of tension in Ryedale. The Conservatives emerged as the largest group on the council, only one seat short of an overall majority. Labour, meanwhile, have been left with a single representative, something of a shock for the authority's former chairman Gary Hobbs.

Much of the Tory success was based on a good countryside vote. This suggests that the rural electorate is still feeling neglected by the national Labour Government.And Selby Tories were also cracking open the champagne after gaining five seats and denying Labour overall control.

Residents in both Ryedale and Selby now have to wait to discover the final political formation of their councils as deals are brokered in the aftermath of today's results.

Many voters have been willing to support a candidate rather than a party, which is good for local democracy. And today's results prove that every vote does count - just ask any Holgate resident.

see NEWS 'Knife-edge'

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