Labour's irresponsible campaign will not convince public

5.03.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 5th Apr 2006

On the day that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have launched Labour's local election campaign in England, the Liberal Democrats have slammed their irresponsible campaign. Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat Party President said "Voters will judge Labour on May 4th on their record on council tax, crime, and local issues. Council tax is an unfair tax and must be scrapped. Pensioners were bribed with a discount last year, which has not been repeated, meaning that four million pensioner households will suffer this year. By exaggerating the threat of crime in areas where they are in opposition they undermine the good work done by the police and local councils in reducing crime. Labour's strategy to increase people's fear in their communities is deeply irresponsible."