Reviewing the ‘disgraceful’ decision to close Sulivan Primary School, creating a 20mph speed limit in residential streets and championing localism are the key manifesto pledges from the Liberal Democrats.

Paul Kennedy, chairman of the Hammersmith and Fulham branch, said Lib Dems will stand in all 46 seats and believes the party can win at least two at the local elections in May, for the first time in recent years.

They hope to challenge seats in Fulham, the traditional Tory stronghold, and Labour’s patch in Shepherd’s Bush, in an attempt to disrupt this two-party borough.

On education, the 52-year-old said: “We will be tackling the schools crisis in Hammersmith and Fulham, which has been exacerbated by what we see as ideological meddling and prejudice by the Conservatives.

“It was natural for the Lib Dems to take a lead in opposing the Sulivan closure : we are passionate about education, Sulivan is a pupil premium success story which is a flagship Lib Dem policy, and we particularly hate decisions which are coloured by prejudice and vested interests rather than in the interest of the whole community.”

This reflects the party’s views on localism.

Mr Kennedy, a scientist-turned-lawyer who has lived in Fulham since 1990, said: “Localism is our big thing. The Tories define democracy as exercising power with the consent of the people.

“We believe that democracy should be implemented by individual groups at the local level.

“In this borough, things like planning and decisions on schools like Sulivan are decided from on high – that shouldn't be the case.”

The Lib Dems want to improve transport in the borough by tackling congested roads and making them safer to encourage people to cycle, walk and use public transport.

The party, similarly to Labour, wants to improve the quality and quantity of the borough’s housing stock.

And how can Mr Kennedy shake off national distrust in the Lib Dems since the coalition came to power?

“When I’m knocking on doors I’m surprised, people are apologetic about the coalition government,” he said.

“They understand that is the government and we’re different. A lot of noise has come from people who weren’t actually Lib Dem in the first place.

“We have to work hard to earn people’s trust, while Labour and the Tories are much more tribal.

He added: “We do not think either of these tribal parties can be trusted to control the council.”