Labour's success in the council elections confirms that the majority of voters have had enough of job losses and cuts to public services. However, the low turnout indicates that many people have already given up voting in the belief that all politicians are the same.
Too many councillors once elected rapidly transmogrify into faceless managers, some with an eye on moving up the political ladder.
At this crucial time they need to become champions of their local communities, working alongside local trade unionists and community groups in defence of services and jobs.
If Ed Miliband is serious about fighting for the rights of ordinary working-class families and winning back trust he must act quickly and imaginatively to ensure that all of the Labour-controlled councils act in the interests of those who elected them.
He needs to organise a national conference or series of regional meetings to bring together Labour councillors so they can discuss strategies to thwart the government's attack.
This could include using reserves, abandoning arms-length council housing management and reducing the use of expensive consultants.
The local election results are definitely good news for Labour, but the post-election euphoria will soon wane if these Labour-controlled councils start passing on the Con-Dem budget cuts and axing local jobs and services, as they have done in Lambeth, and will seriously damage the possibility of a Labour victory in the next general election.
Anita Wright
Lambeth Trades Council
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