Local election round-up – countdown to May 4

Labour pledges a better vision

NORTH Ayrshire Labour has launched its manifesto for the council elections in May.

Entitled ‘A Vision for a Better North Ayrshire’, the manifesto looks to build on the Labour administration’s six months in power.

The manifesto lists a whole of range of Labour achievements and includes more than 100 pledges that Labour says will help create a better North Ayrshire.

These pledges include a comprehensive plan for better housing, greater regulations to improve the private rented sector and bring down the cost of private rents, and the creation of a municipal mortgage scheme to help young people onto the housing ladder.

Also a new North Ayrshire Youth Guarantee, including a guarantee of a positive destination for all 16- and 17-year-olds, continued investment to improve local schools, including primary schools and further devolution of services down to communities – building on the £5 million allocated from Labour’s budget.

After the launch, Labour council leader Joe Cullinane said: ‘This is a manifesto that will deliver a better North Ayrshire. It is a manifesto that makes it clear that Labour will not sit back and accept the status quo – we will set about challenging and changing it.

‘We are proud of our record in power over the past six months. We have achieved so much in such a short period of time.

‘We will now take our message to doorsteps across North Ayrshire and ask local people to give us a full five-year term to build on our record and deliver our vision for a better North Ayrshire in full.’