Miliband says 'think local'

Miliband is urging people to think local ahead of the local elections

Friday, 28, Apr 2006 12:00

Labour are attempting to boost their prospects in next week's local elections by urging people to 'think local'.

Local government minister David Miliband said the improvement taking place in public services was the main issue of concern for the voting public.

It follows a nightmare week for the party at a national level, with commentators comparing events on Wednesday with 'Black Wednesday' – the low point of the previous Tory regime.

Home secretary Charles Clarke faced calls for his resignation, health secretary Patricia Hewitt was heckled by nurses and deputy prime minister John Prescott admitted to an affair with his secretary.

Prime minister Tony Blair described Wednesday as "not a great day for the government", but he dismissed comparisons with Black Wednesday.

"When people talk about Black Wednesday, I remember it. Interest rates went up six per cent and people lost their homes and jobs," he said.

Today, Mr Miliband sought to focus the minds of electorate on issues closer to home ahead of the poll on May 4th.

"I think that we are testing to destruction the idea that people vote on what goes on in the real world as opposed to what goes on in the Westminster world," he told Today.

"We know from opinion polls that people do see change in their own communities. They see a growing economy and they see public services improving.

"They see more police on the beat, but what they do not believe at the moment is that it is happening in other places and it is happening right around the country. That is obviously a job for use over time.

"Over the next week our priority is to make sure that people do think local because it is at a local level that you are seeing enormous change."

There will be elections in 177 local councils in England next week, including all London boroughs and district councils, and a third of metropolitan and unitary councils.