Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said that, "Iraq was a cloud, or indeed a shadow, over these elections.

The national equivalent share of the vote in the election was found by academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher to be 37% to the Conservatives, 27% to the Liberal Democrats and 26% to Labour.

However, they did pick up several councils, notably Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taff from Plaid Cymru in Wales.

Despite an increase in their vote and number of councillors, the Liberal Democrats saw a net loss of councils to NOC.

The British National Party made a net gain of four seats, and held 14.