The Red Wedding: Bullock leads Labour to 53:1 win

Frank Underwood: A great man once said, everything is about sex. Except sex. Sex is about power.
- House of Cards

"Very well, alone!"

This man, John Coughlin, the new Green Party councillor for Brockley, is the only thing standing between Mayor Bullock and total domination of Lewisham Council, after the results of the 2014 local elections were declared last night.

Mayor Bullock was returned with 50.77% of the total vote (the Conservative candidate came second, with a mere 11%), while Labour won every single ward councillor berth, with the exception of John's. It was always going to come down to this - with Brockley the last line of defence against a totalitarian government.

In our view, Bullock's third term is deserved - he is a capable leader, without credible opposition at this election - but for him to preside over a Council of 53 of his own party members, with only one voice of opposition is democratically disastrous. A lot now falls on Coughlin's shoulders in terms of holding Labour to account in Lewisham.

Turnout rose compared with 2006 (the last time the elections didn't coincide with a general election) to 37.2%, which is good news.