The last time the same seats were up for election, in 2007, the Tories won 40 per cent, with Labour on a low of 26 per cent and the Lib Dems on 24 per cent.
Labour is hoping to win back as many as 1,000 from both of the Coalition parties, with a particular emphasis on taking advantage of Mr Clegg's current unpopularity to capture key councils.
At local level, the Lib Dems have traditionally fared better than their national profile suggests, and the party is proud of running such major authorities as Sheffield and Newcastle.
In Bristol, only two seats need to change hands for Labour to capture the council, with a high number of student voters likely to seek to punish the Lib Dems over their about turn on tuition fees.
To lose control of their major city councils would be an embarrassment for a party which it seems likely will also be reeling from the blow of losing the referendum on adopting the Alternative Vote system.
Harriet Harman, Labour's deputy leader, said the council elections in Sheffield had become a "referendum on Nick Clegg".
She added: "People are absolutely dismayed about how Nick Clegg could turn his back on Sheffield and sign up to a whole range of policies that are hurting Sheffield.
"I don't think [the Liberal Democrats] deserve to be in charge of a council which they so badly let down, especially as they have a leader who is representing Sheffield."
No comments:
Post a Comment