Every Labour councillor and each Labour group (of Labour councillors on a local authority) has a crucially important role to play in helping to implement Labour policies at local level and in delivering the success strategy for the next general election.

The precise number of Labour councillors changes all the time - regular byelections change the figure. However, after the May 2002 elections Labour had just over 8,000 councillors, all fighting on behalf of Labour’s values and aims.

Every Labour councillor on a principal council (not parish councils) must be a member of the Association of Labour Councillors, which was established to support, represent and promote Labour in local government.

Labour councillors pledge to:

• adopt the highest standards of probity in public life
• be accessible to and actively consult their constituents
• work with the Labour group to get best value for the community
• be effective representatives for their electorate
• campaign and work with others to build healthy local parties