From the Haringey Independent:
The leader of the Haringey Labour Party has defended its time in office by asking voters to look around and consider how the borough has improved.
Claire Kober, elected leader following George Meehan's resignation in the wake of Baby Peter's death, said the party had a lot to be proud of.
She said: "Schools in Haringey are improving at twice the national average. We have one of the largest numbers of Green Flag parks in London. We have focused on skills training to get people into work. Our streets are cleaner than they were four years ago. We have kickstarted the Decent Homes Programme to give people a comfortable place to live that they can be proud of.
"That's not to say there is not more to be done.
"We have come up with a manifesto that is properly costed and realistic enough to guide us through the next four years, which are going to be tough because of cuts in public finance. We are absolutely committed to it and see it as a contract with our voters."
But the Liberal Democrats who are fighting to end 40 years of Labour rule said what voters should be looking at is "the embarrassing catalogue of disasters" the party has made.
Group leader Robert Gorrie pointed to £37 million loss during the Icelandic bank crisis, the "bungled" attempt to sell Alexandra Palace, its failures in its children's social services department.
Mr Gorrie said: "It is time for Haringey residents to say enough is enough to the Labour council that has left this borough in disarray.
"If, like us, you think Haringey could be one of the best boroughs in London rather than continuing to languish at the bottom of the pile, vote for the Liberal Democrats and together we can turn things around."
He added: "The Conservatives and the Greens are out of the race – this is a clear fight between the Liberal Democrats or Labour. Vote for us and we will change things for you and your family. A vote for the Liberal Democrats means more police on the streets, a freeze on council tax, cleaner streets and better services for our children. We all want a better Haringey. Your vote can make this happen."
Ms Kober said she was growing tired of the Lib Dems "talking down Haringey".
She said: "Over the years the Lib Dem councillors have gone further than attacking the authority, to actually attack the place, and I don't think it is fair to the people that live here. Haringey is not a broken borough. There is plenty for the people of this borough to be proud of."
She added: "We know the Lib Dems are prepared to get into a coalition with the Tories which is something Labour would never do. It goes against everything we stand for."
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