Liberal Democrats deputy leader Simon Hughes voiced his support for the party’s local election campaign during a visit to Bradford yesterday.

Speaking to party members at the Impressions Gallery in Centenary Square, he admitted it had taken the Liberal Democrats “some time after May to get our act together” but said people were now hearing more about the differences the party are making in Government.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: “Remember no-one got a majority. We couldn’t implement everything, we had to negotiate.

“The key thing was to try to sort out the economy and pay off the debts.”

He talked about the replacement for the Education Maintenance Allowance and the new tuition fees system, and said there was a need for “much more serious work experience” to help young people into work.

Mr Hughes visited Bradford College and Carlton Bolling College with David Ward, Lib Dem MP for Bradford East, and Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, the Lib Dem group leader on Bradford Council.