Close of Nominations

Today is the deadline for candidates to submit their nomination papers to stand in next month's local elections. Party staff - at HQ and in the regional offices - have made a real and determined effort to ensure Labour fields as many candidates as possible. We'll be doing our best to analyse the details over the course of this week, but in the meantime, here is a reminder of the figures for 2007:

• 1241 wards did not have a Labour candidate on the ballot


• In only 44 authorities were Labour able to field a full slate of candidates (out of 140 councils)


• In Cotswold, Mid Devon & North Devon councils Labour did not field any candidates at all

Labour are on course to do well in next month's elections, although success is likely to look like a considerable gain in seats, but relatively few extra councils becoming Labour controlled. Labour can look forward to the current tally of councils without a single Labour councillor (64) falling as Labour re-establishes a presence in southern town halls once more.