The rise of the SNP in Scotland caught most attention as it raises questions about the legacy of Tony Blair's constitutional reforms.
But in England Conservative gains of nearly 900 councillors and 38 councils across the country was much greater than expected. Conservatives now control three times as many councils as Labour and LibDems combined.
Three of these gains were in Shropshire, where Conservatives took overall control of South Shropshire, North Shropshire and Oswestry for the first time since these councils were formed in 1973.
In neighbouring areas in the West Midlands Conservatives also took control in Herefordshire, Malvern Hills in Worcestershire and became the largest party in Telford for the first time.
Here the main losers were LibDems: in Bridgnorth reduced to a rump of 3 district councillors.
In South Shropshire LibDems lost effective control of the council, which they had often trumpeted nationally as a flagship LibDem council.
The hard work now begins for new Conservative administrations. Councillors have been elected locally with a mandate to resist proposals for a Unitary authority, to keep Council Tax rises down and to deliver affordable houses rather than just policies.
At a national level voters have given a clear signal for change. Conservatives lead Labour by 13% of the vote. In Scotland and Wales the days of Labour dominance are over. In England Labour lost 20% (and LibDems lost 10%) of council seats. This is the legacy Gordon Brown, a Scotsman, will inherit.
