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.
And if that one hurt, well the defeat to another Community Independent, Sam Gorst in Garston will be felt for even longer. Labour had thrown just about everything at the south Liverpool seat but Cllr Gorst and his independent colleague Lucy Williams edged out the ruling group to make it an impressive three wins for the Community Independents. Make no mistake, Labour really, really didn't want to lose those seats and they will sting.
READ MORE: Local Elections 2023 results Live from Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley and across the country
But aside from those losses, Labour weren't particularly troubled. A disappointing day for the Liberal Democrats saw them finish on 15 seats, while the Greens will be gutted to miss out on the Festival Gardens ward by a single vote, reducing their tally to three. With the Liberals also ending on three it means Labour have a chunky majority of 37 for the next four years.
Some may look at the scandals that have surrounded the ruling group in recent years and wonder how this result was possible. From an arrested former mayor to devastating council reports to parking ticket scandals, it has not been a glorious period for the ruling group.
The national picture is likely to have helped, with Labour doing well across the country and the Tories having a bad day. Even though the Conservatives posed no realistic challenge in Liverpool, the push for a change of government is likely to have made an impact.
The failure of the Lib Dems to mount a serious challenge is another key factor. Questions will now be asked of their long-serving leader Richard kemp after he led the party to a much lower haul of seats than had been hoped for. Perhaps the energy of newly elected young councillors Carl Cashman and Rebecca Turner will now be needed to put some life into a party that ruled the city as recently as 2010 but has shown little sign of getting back there since. They will be complemented by the returning former council leader Mike Storey, who won in Childwall.
Liverpool Labour will be keen to stress that they are under new management and in group leader Liam Robinson they do have someone who appears to be well thought of across the board. He is set to be voted in as Liverpool Council's new leader and will promise a 'fresh start' and a break with the scandals that have dogged his local group in recent years.
So there is a new leader, many new councillors and the opportunity for a new start, but Labour will know that despite their resounding victory today - people across the city won't put up with more of the problems of the past and will need to see real change and real progress from a party they have remained loyal to in some very difficult circumstances.
If they don't change, then the few painful losses they suffered today will be amplified next time around. They have now got four years to show they have listened and learned from the mistakes of the past and are ready for a different future.
READ MORE:
Local Elections 2023 results Live from Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley and across the country
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