Jim White, chairman Newton Abbot Constituency Labour Party, writes:

The elections in May 2011 for Teignbridge Council may be eight months away but the results from Thursday's elections for Exeter City Council clearly show that the decision by the Lib Dems to join forces with the Conservatives has not gone down well in Devon.

On a very bad night for the Lib Dems, the Labour Party became the largest group on Exeter Council with big swings in most seats and three gains. Those of us who travelled up from Newton Abbot to help campaign in Exeter heard the same thing from voters - they were shocked at the Lib Dem's decision to support a Conservative government who seem intent on making massive cuts to services valued by ordinary people.

The good news is that there is a political party that will stand up for local services. The Labour Party in Newton Abbot Constituency has seen a massive increase in membership since the formation of the coalition government, and we expect to field a full list of candidates in next year's election. Under new national leadership, the choice will be a straightforward one - a vote for the Labour Party that is a realistic alternative to the Conservatives or a vote for the Lib Dems that will mean a return to the 1980's and cuts, cuts and more cuts. Only a rejuvenated local Labour Party can truly challenge the Conservatives.

Last week this was understood in Exeter and we look forward to the same being true in 2011 in Newton Abbot Constiteuency.