How the Telegraph reports the Buckinghamshire county council local election 2009

11.58.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th May 2009

The Tories have a firm grip on Buckinghamshire county council but face a challenge from a Lib Dem group boosted by the defection of the only two Labour councillors.

(22 May 2009

Controlled by: Conservatives since 1973

2005 results: Con 44, Lib Dem 11, Lab 2

Seats to be contested: 57

Key issues

The Liberal Democrats are hammering the incumbent Tories for their above-inflation council tax hike, while also highlighting cuts to the education and adult social services budgets. The Tories accuse their chief challengers of opportunism - pointing out that spending can only be maintained by increased taxation - and have set a target of increasing their majority by taking 50 seats.

Labour, whose only two councillors defected to the Lib Dems last year, say they expect a "reasonable" result, but will do well to secure just a handful of seats in a true blue home county.

Party policies

Conservatives: Manifesto n/a

Lib Dems: "We will work with all Bucks Councils to make council services seamless and cheaper to deliver, reduce council bureaucracy and save costs without cutting vital services." Buckinghamshire Liberal Democrat manifesto

Printed by Avril Davies. Promoted by Geoff Twiss on behalf of Avril Davies (Liberal Democrat), both at 6 Castle Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2RE. May 2009.