IN the second part of our series previewing the Lancashire County Council elections on Thursday, local government reporter Tom Moseley spoke to Conservative leader Geoff Driver.

ANYONE wondering how seriously the Tories are taking next week’s County Hall elections need only look at some of the names that have visited Lancashire in recent weeks.

It reads like a who’s who of the Conservative Party - leader David Cameron has been a regular visitor, coming to the Lancashire Telegraph’s offices in Blackburn and launching the Euro election campaign in Rossendale.

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne and Home Affairs Spokesman Chris Grayling have also been in town.

And the entire shadow cabinet gathered for a meeting at County Hall in March, in a move the council’s Labour rulers branded a “publicity-seeking gimmick.”

Group leader Geoff Driver, who will be defending a seat in Preston, insisted the big hitters were “well-briefed” on local policies, and promised to fight the election on Lancashire issues rather than capitalise on Labour’s poor national opinion poll ratings.

He said: “The visits are a consequence of the fact that Lancashire County Council is the number one target for the Conservative Party.

“But we are not knocking on door saying ‘vote for me to get rid of Gordon Brown.’”

The scandal of MPs’ expenses has dominated the news in recent weeks.

Coun Driver, who ousted previous Tory leader Michael Welsh a year ago, added: “We have had to counter the message that ‘you are all the same’, and I have had to talk about what MPs are up to.

“But people are welcoming the line that David Cameron is taking.”

Labour currently has 43 seats to the Conservatives’ 33. The Liberal Democrats have four, with two independents.

There is also one Green Party councillor and one representing the Idle Toad party.

TOP PRIORITY
Giving proper value for money, and freezing council tax.

VOTE FOR US BECAUSE
We will improve the condition of roads and footpaths and care for the elderly.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE
The culture that the council exists for another purpose than to service the people of Lancashire.

KEY BATTLEGROUND
There are several key seats right throughout Lancashire. I can’t just pick one.

WHAT WE WOULD DO ABOUT MPS’ EXPENSES
Even if people are within the rules, if they are morally not correct they have got to go.