CALSTOCK councillor Godfrey Smale was among a contingent of local government Labour party members who met with the Prime Minister last week. Cllr Smale, who is leader of Cornwall County Council's Labour group, represented one of 70 local authorities across the country at a two hour meeting with Tony Blair and various members of the cabinet. Senior party figures he met included Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Minister for Women Ruth Kelly. Political and social issues of the day were on the agenda as well as foreign policy, local Government reform and the next year's local Government elections. Cllr Smale said Tony Blair thanked all the representatives for 'keeping the flag flying.' He said: 'We had a tour of No 10 while we were there — it's such a wonderful piece of our history — and the Prime Minister seemed to be very relaxed.'
