Brown launches local election campaign

Updated 14.35 Tue Mar 25 2008

Keywords: Brown, Labour, local election

Gordon Brown is helping to launch Labour's local election campaign with a slogan that harks back to the Blair leadership.

The Prime Minister will be joined by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith for the May 1 council election launch which uses the slogan "New Labour Your Britain" - not far removed from the "New Labour New Britain" employed by Tony Blair.

"The priorities of Britain's families who play by the rules are our priorities"

At a community centre in Hertfordshire, the pair will underline Labour's commitment to neighbourhood policing and will promise to help families who "play by the rules".

In the campaign launch document, Mr Brown writes: "Our starting point is, and always will be, the struggles and the hopes and ambitions of hard-working families.

"The priorities of Britain's families who play by the rules are our priorities - education, the NHS, cutting crime, affordable housing and a strong economy."

He adds: "People need to see their policemen and women in their communities to feel safer so this Government has ensured that every community in England will have its own dedicated neighbourhood police team patrolling the streets, contactable by mobile phone, and in touch with local people."