In reality, Labour were never going to lose control of Liverpool City Council in these local elections.
Heading into this week's vote even the most pessimistic party campaigners knew they would stay in power - it was just about how many painful losses they would suffer along the way.
The answer is a few. It will have stung the ruling group to lose out to their former councillor Alan Gibbons, who romped home in Orrell Park with a stunning win. The leader of the Liverpool Community Independents said he was blown away to win 1,428 votes compared to his Labour rival's 360.
