Campbell highlights Lib Dem action around the country in election launch

2.13.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 4th Apr 2007

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ming Campbell has highlighted action, not words, by Lib Dem Councillors in communities around the country. He emphasised that it is Liberal Democrat councils who are putting in place practical measures to cut crime, tackle climate change and give power back to local communities.

Launching the Liberal Democrat local government elections campaign, Ming also attacked the Labour government for being "the most centralising and authoritarian government of the modern era" and the Conservatives for learning all the wrong lessons - "the soundbites, the spin" - from Tony Blair.

Local government pundits predict that Labour, who also launched their campaign yesterday, will lose a net 600 seats across the country, while the Conservatives will struggle to gain a foothold in the North.