Labour MP: 'Good result on what we have seen so far'
Labour MP Tom Watson pictured on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee Credit: PA wire
Labour's election co-ordinator Tom Watson said his party enjoyed a good night in the local elections and South Shields by-election.
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 programme, Mr Watson said "We had a good result on what we have seen so far, to get 50 per cent of the vote in South Shields, to win back the mayor in Tyneside, to make progress in the Westminster battleground seats within counties is good for us.
"In the Westminster battleground seats, places like Harlow, Hastings, Stevenage, Cannock, the Westminster seats we lost in 2010 and we need to win back in 2015, they are coming back to Labour in quite big numbers."
The MP for West Bromwich East said Labour leader Ed Miliband had been consistently told by voters that they felt a sense of "powerlessness" when it came to politics and its ability to change their lives.
"At the heart of this is economic failure, they feel the Government plan is not working and they feel the job of the Labour Party is to convince people there is a better way, that we can address this squeeze on living standards and give people more hope," he said.
Labour tax poster: 'Who wants to bung a millionaire?'
Labour unveil their new poster to mark the reduction in the 50p tax rate. Credit: Twitter/ @labourpress
MP Tom Watson and Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls unveil a Labour poster against the government changes to tax reform come into effect, including a cut in the top rate of income tax from 50p to 45p.
Labour MP asks PM to examine 'paedophile network linked to Number 10'
Speaking under parliamentary privilege at Prime Minister's Questions, Labour MP Tom Watson asked David Cameron to urge the Metropolitan Police to re-examine "intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to Number 10."
"The evidence file used to convict paedophile Peter Righton [in 1992], if it still exists, contains clear intelligence of a widespread paedophile ring," Watson began.
"One of its members boasts of his links to a senior aide of a former Prime Minister, who says he could smuggle indecent images of children from abroad.
"The leads were not followed up, but if the file still exists, I want to ensure that the Metropolitan Police secure the evidence, re-examine it, and investigate clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to Number 10."
The Prime Minister said he would "look very carefully and see what the Government can do to help give him [Tom Watson] the assurances he seeks."
The Labour MP Tom Watson, a member of the culture, media and sport select committee which had previously questioned Rupert and James Murdoch, says he is unconvinced by Rupert Murdoch's appearance at the Leveson Inquiry.
