AS Tony Blair's heavily-armoured luxury car barrelled down the M1 from Luton Airport to Downing Street, the re-crowned PM was no doubt experiencing mixed feelings.

Sure, there was the satisfaction of leading Labour to a historic third successive General Election victory with a much-reduced (but comfortable) majority of 66. But on the other hand, he'll have reflected, the triumph came on the back of the smallest winning share of the vote recorded - a meagre 36 per cent.

And as dawn crept across the country and campaign posters and flags fluttered pitifully in gutters, Mr Blair will have found comfort knowing the Tories and Lib Dems had topsy-turvy evenings too.

Michael Howard's Conservatives successfully picked up seats from both Labour and the Lib Dems, gaining roughly 35 extra places in the Commons. But the party's vote share virtually flatlined.

Charles Kennedy's Lib Dems did manage to pick up more votes, but they only scooped one more seat.

And their famed "decapitation strategy" of targeting top Tories in marginal constituencies flopped spectacularly. David Davies, Oliver Letwin and Theresa May all survived. Only Mr Howard's education spokesman, Dr Who-obsessed Tim Collins, took a bullet.

So, everyone's a winner. But at the same time a loser.

Blair admitted lessons would have to be learned. Indeed, he received a harsh lesson about people's disillusionment with mainstream politics when George Galloway, ex-Labour MP, leader of Respect and Saddam's pal, toppled Blair Babe Oona King in Bethnal Green and Bow.

Wandering around London's streets in the run-up to May 5, it was noticeable how little excitement candidates were generating.

As a child I remember Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem candidates knocking on the front door to woo the parents. Posters plastered to every tree, streetlamp, pole and post. Cars with loudhailers exhorted people to get out and vote. Dogs wore multi-coloured rosettes.

In 2005? Nope, none of the above.

On Wednesday, a day before polling began, all three party leaders embarked on a frenzied bout of campaigning, aiming to woo as many wavering voters as possible.

Blair, Howard and Kennedy criss-crossed the country taking their message to knife-edge seats which they believe hold the keys to power.

Looking increasingly weary, Mr Blair insisted that nothing less than the "future of the country" was in the hands of voters in the 100 or so crunch marginal seats.

But among the Prime Minister's serious messages on the state of the economy, schools, the NHS and crime, people focussed on one revelation in an astonishingly frank interview he gave with his wife.

According to Cherie Blair, Tony is a "five times a night" man - impressive by any standard. Is this spin or not? It's anyone's guess. But as Michael Howard would tell you, it's a question of trust, people.

Judging by the low turn-out, instead of making a last-ditch bid to lure voters, the party leaders might have been better off staying at home with a cup of tea and staring heaven-wards.

For the weather could have been Mr Howard's last hope of winning the keys to 10 Downing Street.

Mr Howard would have prayed for rain, sleet or even snow to boost his chances of sweeping to power.

A quick trawl through historical records at the Meteorological Office reveal that cloudless blue skies, sunshine and soaring temperatures usually go hand-in-hand with victories for Labour.

Labour's Clement Attlee enjoyed soaring temperatures of 27C when he won the first post-war election in 1945.

But the founder of the NHS endured heavy rain and strong winds five years later - and suffered a bitter defeat to the Conservative's Winston Churchill.

Margaret Thatcher's win in 1979 was accompanied by snow and hail showers. And her victory of 1987 saw driving rain lashing across the country.

A bright morning greeted Labour's bright new dawn on May 1, 1997. As if paged by spin supremo Alistair Campbell, the sun beamed on Downing Street as Blair was elected PM.

And polling day in 2001 was gloriously sunny.

So it would have been with much gnashing of teeth that the Tories awoke yesterday morning to discover the sky over London was white and the air was uneasily calm.

Fittingly for the election of 2005, even the weather couldn't be bothered.

Updated: 09:41 Friday, May 06, 2005