Ahead of today's elections across England and Wales, Harriet Harman, Deputy Leader and Chair of the Labour Party, writes exclusively for labour.org.uk...

Across the country hundreds of thousands of people are standing up for their communities by voting Labour.

They’re voting for community policing. They’re voting for better hospitals, better schools, better services and lower taxes. They’re voting for better public transport, a cleaner, healthier environment and a strong and stable economy.

Most of all they’re standing up for their families and their communities.

I need you to join them. I need you to go and vote Labour.

In these local council elections, we must act together. We must make sure that our Labour councillors across the country can keep doing what they do best – serving their communities. And in London we must make sure that Ken stays on as our Mayor.

Your vote today will determine how your local services are run. If you are able to go out and talk to your friends, your neighbours and your colleagues you could bring extra votes to Labour and so have an even bigger impact on your local community.

Please do vote for Labour today.

Thank you and best wishes