Liberal Democrats in Essex launched their election campaign by highlighting one of their campaign issues - potholes. Liberal Democrat county council leader Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes explained more about the party's campaign:

"It's a very simple message - taxpayers' money needs to be spent on more services for the benefit of local people and less on spin and publicity that benefits politicians.

Sadly, the last four years of Conservative control have seen Essex County Council downgraded in its performance by independent assessors. This was mainly as a result of its deteriorating children's services in general and services for vulnerable children in particular, which along with only seven other councils in the country, have been identified as inadequate. Concentrating on providing first class services and getting the basics right must be the first priority, yet money has been frittered away on hosting seminars, spin and publicity and the launch of a publicly funded public relations company.

We want roads and pavements fixed and comprehensive services for the elderly, the sick and for children. Liberal Democrats would cut the council's budget for publicity and spin and reinvest the money into mainstream services. Services not spin.

Providing high quality council services that the public wants and expects is the primary concern of Liberal Democrats in Essex and is at the centre of our election manifesto. At this time of financial uncertainty, it is especially important that hard earned taxpayers' money is spent diligently and appropriately.

The council is currently sitting on £200m in reserve funds, money that has been paid by taxpayers, and we would return some of that money back to struggling residents for them to spend as they see fit."