Labour braced for ‘political bruising’ as millions vote

LABOUR was last night braced for a political bruising in the biggest test of electoral opinion since it won a third term in office in the 2005 general election.

The party was expected to suffer heavy losses as millions of voters went to the polls in elections for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and local councils in England and Scotland.

It is likely to be a painful parting shot for Tony Blair as he prepares to announce next week his final plans to step down as Prime Minister after a decade in power.