THE leader of the Labour party today called on council election voters to show the government what they think of last month's budget as he took time out from the campaign trail to have tea with senior citizens in Caerphilly county.

In an interview with the Argus the leader of the opposition Ed Miliband said the party was getting back in touch with voters after the 2010 general election and that the party had to aim for full employment.

He met sitting Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen councillor and left-wing activist Ray Davies before tucking into Welsh cakes with pensioners including the Bedwas OAP Association's oldest member Thelma Davies, 93 at the town's senior citizens' hall.

South Wales Argus: election 2012 icon

He told the hall: "I hope people are going to turn out in May and show this Tory led government what they think of that budget."

The party is hoping to win control of Caerphilly council from a Plaid and independent coalition.

Mr Miliband told the Argus: "Labour is on the side of Britain's pensioners and Wales' pensioners.

"What we have seen is a budget that cut taxes for millionaires but raises taxes for millions of people including Britain's pensioners.

"I think its incredibly unfair and I think there's a lot of anger about it."

He said that Labour had tabled amendments in parliament to restore tax allowances to pensioners, that are to be cut in the Tory/Lib Dem government budget.

He also said that the party would force energy firms to cut energy bills to four million people over the age of 75 – although to do that it would have to win the next general election.

The party had lost touch in 2010, he admitted, but had "made more 30 per cent more contacts across Wales than we did in the 2010 general election".

He said people should vote on both local government and national issues at the ballot box, and that government decisions at Westminster are having a "big impact on people's lives".

Mr Miliband added: "I think full employment is an incredibly important ambition. It has got to be the aim of the Labour party."

He said his party would try to conquer long term youth unemployment.