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Local elections 2013: Cameron attacks 'waste' as he launches campaign Local elections 2013: Cameron attacks 'waste' as he launches campaign
(34 minutes later)
David Cameron has vowed to eradicate council "waste and propaganda," as he launched his party's campaign for local authority elections next month.David Cameron has vowed to eradicate council "waste and propaganda," as he launched his party's campaign for local authority elections next month.
He contrasted what he described as excessive salaries and perks for Labour councillors with the "good government" of Conservative town halls.He contrasted what he described as excessive salaries and perks for Labour councillors with the "good government" of Conservative town halls.
Elections will be held for 27 county councils and seven unitary authorities in England on Thursday 2 May.Elections will be held for 27 county councils and seven unitary authorities in England on Thursday 2 May.
The Tories are fighting to retain the major gains made in these areas 2009. The Tories are fighting to retain major gains made in these areas in 2009.
Labour, Lib Dems and UKIP have already begun campaigning for next month's elections - which also include Anglesey in Wales - while the Green Party also launched their campaign on Friday.Labour, Lib Dems and UKIP have already begun campaigning for next month's elections - which also include Anglesey in Wales - while the Green Party also launched their campaign on Friday.
Council taxCouncil tax
During a visit to Warwickshire, Mr Cameron cited Conservative councils' decision to freeze council tax for the past three years as evidence that the party was on the side of "hard-working people". During a visit to Warwickshire, the Conservative leader cited Conservative councils' decision to freeze council tax for the past three years as evidence that the party was on the side of "hard-working people".
There was a "clear moral imperative" for councils to keep council tax bills down, he said during a speech in Nuneaton.
The government has encouraged local authorities in England to freeze council tax bills by providing central cash to cushion the cut in real-terms income, although a third of the total have rejected the offer.The government has encouraged local authorities in England to freeze council tax bills by providing central cash to cushion the cut in real-terms income, although a third of the total have rejected the offer.
"Here in Warwickshire they've frozen council tax - this year, last year, the year before that," he said. "On average - on a Band D bill, Conservative councils continue to charge lower levels of council taxes than Labour or Lib Dems." "Here in Warwickshire they've frozen council tax - this year, last year, the year before that," he said.
"On average - on a Band D bill, Conservative councils continue to charge lower levels of council taxes than Labour or Lib Dems."
And he attacked the record of Labour local authorities, criticising the pay of top officials in Sheffield and suggesting Durham Council had given their staff an annual £12,000 clothing allowance to spend on "Geordie Armani".And he attacked the record of Labour local authorities, criticising the pay of top officials in Sheffield and suggesting Durham Council had given their staff an annual £12,000 clothing allowance to spend on "Geordie Armani".
"If you want good government that costs less - vote Conservative," he said. "If you want waste and propaganda - vote Labour. Do not let Labour do to your council what they did to our country.""If you want good government that costs less - vote Conservative," he said. "If you want waste and propaganda - vote Labour. Do not let Labour do to your council what they did to our country."
Mr Cameron also hailed progress on welfare reform, immigration and cutting income tax, saying the coalition government was "on track" on tackling the country's financial problems. The Conservative leader said the government had dismantled "all the bureaucracy" surrounding town halls set up by its Labour predecessor.
'Significant gains' "We have given councils much more freedom and it is Conservative councils which have run with it."
Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, will also set out her campaign objectives later. 'On track'
The Greens are fielding close to 1,000 candidates in the elections and defending seats they hold in Oxfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk among other places. In 2009, the last time the equivalent seats were contested, they elected 17 councillors. Mr Cameron also hailed progress on welfare reform, immigration and cutting income tax, saying the coalition government was "on track" over tackling the country's financial problems and its wider programme of "national renewal".
The party are campaigning on a platform of opposing government welfare cuts, protecting the green belt, supporting a "living wage", introducing 20mph limits on more roads and stopping the construction of waste incinerators. Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, has also set out her campaign objectives, promising to focus on opposing the government's welfare cuts, supporting low-paid workers and protecting the green belt.
UKIP are fielding a record number of candidates in the 2 May poll. Leader Nigel Farage said his party would "establish a bridgehead" in county councils across England. When he launched the party's campaign earlier this month, leader Ed Miliband pledged to "stand up for those without power" while Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said his party had the "right priorities in tough times".
Labour are expected to make significant gains among the 2,449 seats up for grabs as they were last fought for in 2009, when Gordon Brown's government was unpopular nationally. UKIP leader Nigel Farage has said his party would "establish a bridgehead" in county councils across England and was fielding a record number of candidates.
When he launched the party's campaign earlier this month, leader Ed Miliband pledged to "stand up for those without power". Nearly 2,500 seats are up for grabs in less than two weeks time in an election which will be closely watched as a barometer of public opinion two years ahead of the scheduled date for the next general election.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg began the Lib Dems' campaign on Monday. Labour are expected to make gains as the seats were last fought for in 2009, when Gordon Brown's government was unpopular nationally.
Speaking during a visit to Kendal in Cumbria, he said the party had the "right priorities in tough times" and had proved it could be relied upon to deliver local services "as fairly as possible".
In the most recent Westminster by-election, in Eastleigh, the Conservatives were pushed into third place behind the Liberal Democrats and UKIP while the Greens did not put up a candidate.