The Labour and Conservative party manifestos have drawn electoral battle lines over key local government areas of housing, education and greater devolution.

Labour party manifesto commitments published yesterday included the aspiration to ‘save money and create more responsive services by building co-operation between public service sand organisations' through the use of pooled budgets across local areas – an acknowledgment of the whole place community budgets programme.

Manifesto commitments on care services included a pledge to work with local authorities and care providers to end time-limited 15 minute visits, end zero-hours contracts and incentivise better care in the home.