Last Thursday's local election results were a real boost for the party. I would like to congratulate all the councillors and activists in the North West who pounded the pavements and worked so hard to earn these results. We proved we are the largest party in Britain in local election terms. For Labour and the Liberals, however, it was a dreadful night. As Iain Duncan Smith pointed out Labour suffered its worst result since the winter of discontent in 1979 losing 740 seats. The Liberals meanwhile failed to make inroads losing control of seven councils. The Liberal Democrats now control just 27 councils in the whole of England, the Conservatives won that many overnight.

The result in the North West gave genuine cause for heart for next year's European Parliament election. We won control of Fylde, Congleton, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn and we helped remove Labour from overall control in Trafford, Rossendale, Bolton, Vale Royal and Allerdale. I believe we are now marching forward and can expect to win again in the North West securing more MEPs than any other party and winning back key seats in the General Election.

I would be extremely grateful if existing councillors could ask new councillors to email me back with their email address and home address with post code. It is absolutely vital we keep in touch and active with massive elections on the horizon.