Miliband in Merthyr ahead of local elections

Ed Miliband during the Welsh Labour Conference, Cardiff. Credit: ITV Wales

Labour leader Ed Miliband will be in Merthyr Tydfil this morning campaigning in the run-up to the local elections. The party are hopeful of gaining outright control in places such as Merthyr, Torfaen and the large city councils of Swansea, Newport and Cardiff. Miliband is the last of the UK leaders to visit Wales, and he will hope the party can improve on its result in 2008. Four years ago the party suffered a string of defeats in Wales, as Labour were in government at Westminster and unpopular amongst voters.

A strong result would also help Ed Miliband’s personal standing. Across the UK the opinion polls show Labour ahead of the Conservatives, but, when asked who would make the best Prime Minister, voters still prefer David Cameron to Ed Miliband.

On Tuesday the party held a “get out the vote” event in Newport with Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, stating this election should be a “referendum on the budget.” The election to decide the composition of 21 unitary authorities will take place on the 3rd of May.