Labour leader, Ed Miliband, kicked-off his party's manifesto for the local elections last week, claiming his party would be the ‘first line of defence' against cuts to council services.

Although Labour has won two by-elections since Mr Miliband became leader in September, next month's elections will be the first major national test for the party, and is expected to change the balance of power within the Local Government Association. However, the expected 1,000 local seats the Labour Party is expected to win will not be enough to swing control of the association away from the ruling Conservative Party.