This is a time for humility: last week’s election results were disastrous for Labour. The expenses scandal, coming when so many people are suffering the uncertainty or reality of recession, has hit the party in power harder than others. Many good councillors have suffered unfairly as a result.

In High Peak, neither Barbara Wilson (Buxton North and East) nor Roger Wilkinson (Glossop South) deserved to lose. Both have been true servants of their wards and achieved much for their communities. I know that they will both continue to discharge their duties well as Borough Councillors. It was ‘no change’ elsewhere in High Peak but I feel especially sorry for Labour’s Lynne Cardwell. She fought well in New Mills and lost to a second rate sitting councillor.

Under Labour, Derbyshire County Council has improved its schools and school buildings, created pre-school early excellence centres that are the envy of the country and maintained free home helps where other councils have not. Politics works on pendulums, but after 28 years of progress and effectiveness under Labour I really do fear what the new regime in Matlock may bring. Is the Gold Card safe, I wonder?

Although Labour’s losses in Derbyshire last week were fewer than in any other Labour-held county, they were equally devastating.

The sensational stories of the last month have hidden good economic news: movement in the housing market, growing retail sales and the huge success of the car scrappage scheme. Collectively, MPs inadvertently made it impossible for council candidates to get out proper messages because of our indulgences in an anarchic system of spending rules.

Now we must concentrate on beating the recession, building homes, reforming politics and the next battle that is to come, in May next year. Any more ‘rocking the boat’ risks sinking the ship.