Labour and the Conservatives launched their campaigns for June's local elections yesterday.

Speaking in Leeds, Tony Blair attacked Michael Howard by linking him to former prime minister Baroness Thatcher.

"People who are running the Conservative Party today were the arch high priests of all those aspects of Thatcherism that people disliked most and voted to get rid of in 1997," he said.

"The last thing we need, with the economy strong and record investment in our public services, paying off and turning round public services, is a return to the failed policies of the past - a return to the 1980s with under-investment in public services and high unemployment," he added.

Meanwhile in Birmingham, Howard told 200 Tory supporters that the Conservatives would devolve more decisions to local authorities, free them from Whitehall red tape and hand power "back to the people".