RICHARD Livsey, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Wales, has branded local government reform a 'disaster'.

Mr Livsey blasted Labour's agenda for council change as a cause of 'cabinet style secrecy' then turned his fire on a Tory record of 'sleaze and far right economics'.

Having shot down both parties, the MP for Brecon and Radnorshire then called his own 'troops' to arms.

Addressing a recent rally he told activists it was time to revive radicalism in the fight for 'freedom and democracy'.

The Lib Dems, he said, did not need rebranding in Wales - social justice, the development of communities and the rights of the individual were already at the top of its agenda.

In his speech, Mr Livsey highlighted Labour's 'disastrous reforms' of local government, which have produced 'cabinet secrecy', and reminded the conference of the 'disastrous' eighteen years of Conservative rule.