The first Labour party local election broadcast was screened on Wednesday evening, in the run-up to the May 2 polls.

The broadcast forms part of a series in which cabinet ministers, including prime minister Tony Blair and chancellor Gordon Brown, are to engage in a question and answer sessions with selected audiences.

Home secretary David Blunkett will be shown at a community centre in Sheffield.

"It's actually voting that can make the difference as to whether the investment goes into tackling crime and policing or whether it goes into environment and healthcare, or whether it's cut," he say as concerns mount amid dire predictions of a low voter turnout.