Will Labour's rose be pruned?

By Arif Ansari Political Editor, BBC North West

All seats at the county council will be contested

The Red Rose is not just the symbol of Lancashire, it is also the symbol of the Labour Party.

But the Conservatives have got their pruning shears at the ready.

Lancashire County Council is their number one target at this year's local elections.

That is partly because it is a glittering prize, but also because the Tories believe it is winnable.

Lancashire is as solidly Labour as it is possible to get these days.

It has been run by the party continuously since 1981, though there was a period when it had no overall control and had to rely on opponents for support.

The Labour Leader, Hazel Harding, has been running Lancashire for eight years.

I've seen examples in other Conservative-controlled councils where the bottom line is all-important and services have been reduced Hazel Harding, Labour leader

Among her achievements, Mrs Harding lists reducing crime, co-operating with the smaller district councils and supporting businesses.

"We started a micro-finance business scheme last year in anticipation of the recession," she said.

"Within six weeks, 32 very small businesses were running with loans of less than £5,000. That's 32 families not having to rely on benefits."

She insists that the feeling on the street is better than the media suggests.

But the unpopularity of Gordon Brown's government is certain to rebound at a local level.

Conservative management

Even so, the councillor issues a stark warning about the prospect of a Tory victory.

"I've seen examples in other Conservative-controlled councils where the bottom line is all-important and services have been reduced.

"It's vulnerable people who suffer first," she added.

But the Tories insist they want to do the reverse.

Geoff Driver, the man who wants to become Lancashire's new leader, has never led a council before but he has plenty of experience of running one.

For three years he was the chief executive of Preston city council, its most senior officer.

He retired early in 1996 after a turbulent time and moved into charity work.

If someone tries to pull the wool over my eyes, I'll know about it and I won't put up with it Geoff Driver, Conservative leader England's election map

Mr Driver feels his background in local government finance is bound to help.

"I won't interfere in day-to-day management but I understand how the system works," he said.

"If someone tries to pull the wool over my eyes, I'll know about it and I won't put up with it."

The Conservatives promise to increase spending on children's services, especially for the vulnerable, by £5m.

Roads would get an extra £9m. And another £250,000 would be found for elderly and disabled care.

"Others must judge if I'm more traditional Labour than Labour - but I care. My priority is to help the disadvantaged," he said.

Liberal Democrats

But if that sounds expensive, the Tories are also promising to freeze the council tax next year.

But in the middle of a recession council finances are already stretched, so where is the extra money coming from?

The answer is that priorities will change.

The frequency of the county newsletter will be reduced, which will save a bit.

More fundamentally many council employees are expecting a 5% pay rise following an equal pay review. The Tories would reduce that to 4%.

And all posts that become vacant would be scrutinised with the intention of not filling one in five jobs.

Labour has been in power at Lancashire County Hall since 1981

The Liberal Democrats do not pretend to have a chance of winning this election - they only have four of the 84 seats available.

But perhaps appropriately for a party that wants to focus on highways, the Lib Dem Leader has hopes of becoming a backseat driver.

If the results are evenly split the Lib Dems could hold the balance of power.

Group Leader David Whipp wants a £20m programme of investment in roads.

He invited me to a road in Earby to spot the potholes, something which did not prove a particularly challenging task.

Mr Whipp said there was a £100m backlog of repairs and that the last time roads improved was in 1989, when his party previously held the balance of power.

"If repairs are not done now, it will become more expensive in the long term.

"It will create work and jobs for local people. So I think it's a win-win situation," he said.

Results expected

Voting takes place on Thursday June 4, with the results announced the following day.

It is the first time since 1993 that the vote in Lancashire does not coincide with a general election.

That will reduce turnout which could make the result less predictable, though traditionally fewer votes hurts Labour disproportionately.

Hazel Harding's own seat is vulnerable, but she keeps things in perspective.

"If the people of Rossendale decide they want to say goodbye to me, I have family and friends who will be very glad to see much more of me," she said.

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