Council leader hails Cameron for erasing 'nasty party' image » Central government » 24dash.com

A council leader who is fronting the first Conservative administration for 22 years today hailed the effect David Cameron has had on the party's standing with voters.

Councillor Bob Bibby said the Tory leader had erased the "nasty party" image and had been critical in securing electoral success in Bury.

The Conservatives gained three seats in the borough to win the council outright, which had previously been no overall control.

It gave them 26 seats to Labour's 16 - down four - with the Liberal Democrats up one on nine.

Councillor Bibby said Tory success in Bury for the first time since 1986 was down to a combination of local and national issues.

As well as policies implemented by his minority government, the national leadership of both the Conservatives and Labour had played a huge part.

He said: "The way that David Cameron has turned the party around has made a huge difference - to be able to knock on doors and be welcomed in, be more approachable, be more human.

"I think the idea that we were the 'nasty party' was overblown but there was some resonance to it.

"I remember when it was very, very difficult to canvass and knock on doors and now that has all changed round and that's the doing of David Cameron and his team.

"And of course we've had our 'pennies from heaven' in the form of Gordon Brown, God bless him he has really helped us tremendously, and I only hope he continues to the next General Election."

Bury was one of the top targets for the Tories and success there was reflected in other strong performances across the North West.

They gained seats in Labour-controlled Tameside, Salford, Wigan and Halton; a seat in Liberal Democrat-controlled Stockport; and seats in the no overall control councils of Oldham, Bolton, Warrington, Wirral, Preston and Pendle.

They also increased their majorities in West Lancashire, Chorley, Hyndburn and Trafford.

After 102 of 159 councils declared, the only council in the North West where they lost a seat was Sefton in Merseyside.

But they failed to make any progress in Manchester or Liverpool and were unable to end up as the party with most councillors in Bolton, which had been an objective.

Mr Cameron was due to visit councillors and supporters in Bury this afternoon to celebrate the successes in the region.