The Labour Party launched its local election campaign yesterday by calling on voters to back the government or face big cuts in schools and hospitals.

John Prescott accused the Conservatives of planning 20 per cent cuts in public services.

Speaking at the campaign launch in Birmingham, the deputy prime minister said that under Labour there were 20,000 more teachers, nearly 50,000 more nurses and a record 130,000 police officers.

"This Labour government stands proud on its record on delivering more teachers, more nurses and more police," he said.

The FT reports that Labour's campaign plan has been hit by the war in Iraq's disruption to their grid of policy announcements and ministerial appearances.