LABOUR leader Ed Miliband has argued that the party’s successes in the local elections prove he could lead the party to victory in the 2015 general election.

His comments on Saturday came as he bids to fend off criticism that although the party gained more than 300 council seats in the elections it failed to make an advance in key areas seen as vital if Labour wants to secure an overall majority in a Parliamentary election, due next year.

One of those areas is Thurrock in Essex, where the party lost control of the council after securing it only last year when Mr Miliband described that victory as a sign the party was “winning back trust.”

A surge in Ukip support saw the far-right party take two Labour and three Tory seats, leaving no party in overall control of the authority. Mr Miliband, who says he is determined to attract voters “from every walk of life,” is due to visit the Essex town this week.

A projection of national vote share on the basis of the local votes suggested Labour was on 31 per cent — just two points ahead of the Conservatives. But the Labour leader pointed to other areas where the party had performed strongly as evidence he could secure the keys to 10 Downing Street.

“The local elections show Labour can win because it is our party which is winning where it matters in dozens of our target seats for the next election,” he said.

“From Cambridge to Redbridge, from Crawley to Amber Valley, people are electing Labour councils to meet their desire for change.”