But both parties lost out this time.
Labour were down 150 seats and lost control of one council.
The former Lib Dem business secretary, Vince Cable, generally regarded as a sane voice in British politics, said today that Ukip's collapse had important implications for the general election.
Cllr Truelove wondered if, with a general election around the corner, voters would be less inclined to vote "politically" in the local elections, instead focusing more on the quality of the local candidate than they perhaps would have done had Theresa May not called a snap vote for June 8.
"We know we ahve worked really hard, we have done an open and honest campaign It is not for a lack of a credible policies".
The local election on Thursday was to elect mayor of six new city regions, as well as around 4,800 seats on 88 local councils in Scotland, Wales and England.
With numerous results now in, the Conservatives have the most reason to be cheerful: They've gained several hundred seats, as well as a shock mayoral win in Labour's North East heartland.
The Conservative candidate for the new "metro mayor" post for the West of England, Tim Bowles, beat Labours Lesley Mansell by 51.6 per cent to 48.4 per cent, registering another major win for the Tories.
It also lost the English councils of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Northumberland.
Is Saturday Night Live new tonight, May 13th?
From there, McCarthy touched on Spicer's gum-chewing habit, fondness for alternative facts, and combative style. She emerges in full Spicey mode, and hilariously finishes her song and dance as the press secretary.
The Tories have gained massive ground from the UKIP and Labour but the party has chosen to strike a note of caution to prevent its prospective MPs becoming too complacent in the general election campaign.
But the poll pain could continue as results feed through for Scotland, where Labour has been decimated by the SNP.
Labour won three seats on KCC in total, down from 13 in 2013, which is surely an indication of public perception of party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
And with an eye to the General Election, he said: "We have five weeks to win the General Election so we can fundamentally transform Britain for the many, not the few".
ICM's research director, Martin Boon, said there was now a risk that the latest poll was over-stating support for Conservatives and under-representing the Liberal Democrats.
But the results, which come after several polls indicating a big Tory lead over Labour in general election terms, will surely give the prime minister a big boost.
The Conservatives made sweeping advances across the United Kingdom, gaining more than 500 councillors.
Former Labour heartlands such as Bridgend Blaenau Gwent, and Merthyr Tydfil are now under Tory control in an embarrassing night for leader Jeremy Corbyn. The UKIP suffered a huge defeat - losing 145 seats and winning only one - virtually wiping them out.
UKIP leader Paul Nuttall suffered even bigger losses as his party have failed to hold any seats as the results stand this morning.
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