WITH the local Council elections taking place on May 6, the Telegraph & Argus has asked each political party fielding five or more candidates to tell readers why they should back their candidates.

Today is the turn of the Labour Party - which currently controls Bradford Council.

"The people of the Bradford district have been brilliant throughout the toughest of times. Thank you!

"Many in our district are key workers who have kept grafting throughout the pandemic to keep us all safe and fed. Volunteers have worked alongside Local Labour Councillors to support local people. Together they handed out food parcels to children in school holidays, fetched people’s medicine during the first lockdown and kept in weekly phone contact with elderly residents who had to isolate at home for months. Whether you’re a key worker, a volunteer, or indeed one of the many residents who have done their bit by staying apart, we say a heartfelt thank you.

"Your local Labour councillors believe in working together in communities so we all have a better chance in life. We are practical, hard-working people who are rooted in our communities, always there to help people who need it. A vote for your local Labour candidate is a vote for a committed team who will get things done for your local area.

"But just surviving the pandemic isn’t enough. Labour Councillors like to do the basics well. This is why we’re investing an extra half a million into street cleansing this year and why we’re putting another half a million in local services to support each ward from Worth Valley to Wibsey and all points in between. We know that keeping the place clean and tidy is important to all residents and we’ll increase the number of clean teams working across the district to deliver that.

"We also want to create a better future where our young people, so badly hit by the restrictions of the last year, stand a better chance of getting a job with a decent wage and a happy home life so we’re investing in:

• Jobs – £1 million into SkillsHouse, our award-winning employment programme which supports people into sustainable jobs

• Raising educational attainment – we are investing £2.4m to support children’s learning and emotional wellbeing, including an innovative and fun summer holiday scheme

• Youth services – so many across the country have been completely cut due to national government austerity but we have protected ours in the Bradford district and we are committed to strengthening this important service

And your Bradford district Labour Councillors don’t just talk, we deliver:

• We have risen to the unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, praised our leadership in October when he said Bradford District had shown “superb leadership in the way that they have tackled this” and “if they had not done so and consistently, working with the communities of Bradford, we would be in a substantially worse state than we are”.

• We’ve had ten years of Tory austerity which has decimated public services. Here in Bradford district we’ve managed your money prudently. This prudence means that this year we will not have to cut any services - and indeed we are investing more in the services that matter to you.

"We believe in the Bradford District, we don’t knock it like other political parties do. We want the Bradford District to be a world beater and a great place to live for everyone.

"We ask for your vote to serve you. A vote for Labour means council services you can rely on as well as delivering on the ambition we share with you for regeneration and jobs. Together let’s take the district to the next level of success."