London Editor
The Liberal Democrats are eyeing regaining control of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset councils next month as the party attempts to re-establish its local government power base in the South West.
The Conservative Party swept to power in elections for the three upper-tier authorities in the Westcountry the last time they were contested in 2009.
But, despite the slump in the national polls of the coalition Government parties, senior Lib Dems believe re-taking the large rural councils is a distinct possibility – and will provide a platform for the 2015 general election campaign.
On May 2, almost 2,400 seats will be contested in 35 areas – mostly county councils where Tories and Liberal Dems will go head-to-head. One senior Lib Dem source in Whitehall said: "Those are areas that we are definitely working hard in but in the current climate to go as far as taking them will be a bit of a stretch. That would be an exceptional night. It might be slightly out of reach.
"Somerset is somewhere we have focused on. Across Cornwall too, less so Devon. Over 74% of elections we are facing we are in Tory facing seats. That is across the South West. That's where we feel strongest in our battles against the Tories. It is part of building from here up to 2015.
"The Tories expect to have the most difficult set of elections of this Parliament after the high watermark in 2009."
The party established its political credibility through local election wins in the region in the 1990s.
Cornwall Council is run by a Tory-led coalition with Independents. Some 122 councillors will be chosen, and the election is the first "all-out" vote since the unitary authority was founded in 2009. The Conservatives have 46 seats to 37 Lib Dem councillors.
In Devon, where the authority is Conservative controlled, all 62 seats are up for grabs. The Tories hold 41 seats to 14 by the Lib Dems. Somerset County Council is held by the Conservatives by 35 seats to 21 held by the Lib Dems, and 55 seats will be contested.
Incumbent councillors will face pressure for enacting unpopular spending cuts, as well as a series of local difficulties including chaos over bin collections in Cornwall. However, many will campaign on freezing council tax at a time where family budgets are under pressure.
Meanwhile, Labour is looking to capitalise on the unpopularity of the cuts and welfare reform. Deputy leader Harriet Harman said last week the party, which has little support outside the cities in the Westcountry, was looking to make "progress" in the region, and could scoop tactical Lib Dem voters.
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage this week began a nationwide tour in the South West amid hopes it will be fertile ground for the party buoyed by the Eastleigh by-election, and threatening to split the Tory vote.