Taking overall control of Kirklees Council is the Labour Party’s aim.

And the party hopes its candidates standing for the 24 seats up for grabs on the council on Thursday will boost the 32-strong party. They only need to win a few more seats to take full control of the 69-seat council.

Labour leader Clr David Sheard said his candidates were campaigning on local issues specific to the ward they hope to represent, as well as wider Kirklees issues such as homes and jobs.

The leader, who is up for re-election in his Heckmondwike ward, said he talks to people about the cost of care on the doorstep.

He said: “Candidates will talk to people about what’s local to them, but we are campaigning on homes and jobs, plus we want to be part of a council that looks after people who can’t look after themselves.

“It’s a core part of what the council does, looking after young people and old people is expensive and I don’t think people realise that.

“If it’s a choice between a public toilet or home care, as it has been in the past, then we have to go with care every time.

“Very few people understand our biggest spend is care. We recognise people focus on other services but let’s focus on the care service.”

Clr Sheard said his party wanted to drive plans for more affordable housing and encourage better wages locally and under his leadership the council has introduced the Living Wage.

Asked if taking overall control of the council is achievable, Clr Sheard said: “Anything is achievable, but let’s wait for the results.

“You can never tell if a General Election will help Labour locally. It could change the dynamics

“The future of Kirklees Council and the services it provides will be determined not only by the local election but also by the result of the General Election.

“Whatever the result, Kirklees has to change what it does and how it does it. I have seen election leaflets promising more services and lower rates – some people may believe them but most people live in the real world.

“I haven’t see anything worthwhile on the Tory leaflets, but other parties get our situation better and I’m willing to listen to them.”

Labour Party candidates are contesting Mirfield Town Council for the first time in many years. Asked if it was done with devolution to parishes in mind, Clr Sheard replied: “It’s always up to the individual branches whether they contest or not. This isn’t a Kirklees Labour decision but a branch one.”