LabourList goes local

Following the CSR on Wednesday, it has become increasingly clear that the pressures that were already piling on local authorities up and down the country are going to get significantly worse. If – as the saying goes – all politics is local, then politics is going to be very difficult indeed.

Labour will need imagination and vision to deal with the impact of local cuts and to rebuild localism as a positive force (rather than a simple devolving of the axe) once we return to power.

And that’s where LabourList comes in. Throughout the day we will be publishing contributions from experts and councillors, ministers and leaders. Some will offer analysis of where we are now and where our future lies, some will outline problems Labour will need to face, some will offer solutions to the issues local councils are dealing with now and will be faced with soon.

Next week theLocal Government Association are holding their annual conference. Thanks to the work of dedicated activists and incredible hard work locally, there are hundreds of new Labour councillors this year. We hope the ideas and examples offered today will off them hope and inspiration in the coming month and years.

The Big Society has failed, but Labour society is still thriving in our local communities despite all that is being thrown at them. Given the week our councils and councillors have had, we felt that the least we could do was take a day to celebrate them and the good work that they do. We hope you enjoy it.