London, June 6 (ANI): British voters have sent the ruling Labour Party packing in county council elctions, handing victory to the Tories. They also rubbed salt into Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s wounds by reducing party’s vote share by 15 points.

Labour was swept from its last four county councils - Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Staffordshire.

Caroline Flint added to the party’s woes by quitting as Europe Minister.

The Labour Party’s share of the polling slumped to just 23 per cent, 15 points behind the Conservatives. A total of 329 Labour councillors lost, while the Tories gained 285 seats.

That meant that David Cameron’s troops have got control of a string of councils, The Sun reported.

But the Tory leader will be concerned about his party’s projected share of the vote — 38 per cent which is down six points compared to last year’s local polls.

The Liberal Democrats were on 28 per cent - up three points on last year.

The far-right BNP won its first-ever county council seat in Lancashire’s Burnley ward. And the little-known English Democrats - against mass immigration - snatched victory in the mayoral election in Doncaster, South Yorks.

The minor parties, including UKIP and the Green Party, were hoping to make more impact in the Euro elections, where the protest vote is more likely to have effect. (ANI)