Focus on Local Government was first published in Autumn 1972 (Vol. 1, No. 1) as a direct successor to The Councillor and Focus on Education: 'The official Local Government and Education journal of the Conservative and Unionist Party', and included Education, Environment, Housing and Transport as the policy areas specifically covered.

In the foreword to its first edition, Peter Walker, Environment Secretary, states, 'A warm welcome to the first edition of the magazine. It could not come at a more important time as far as local government is concerned. For next Spring the country will be involved in electing new Local Authorities following the first major reform of local government this century. It is vital that the Conservative Party carefully chooses the best possible candidates that are available so that we can see that the new Authorities get off to a fine start with vigorous leadership from the newly elected members.' A further introductory message was given by Margaret Thatcher: 'I welcome the new publication which will combine The Councillor and Focus on Education. The law makes special provision for statutory education committees, but we must remember that they form a part of the local authority's work as a whole. The greater the co-operation we can achieve between education, social services, housing and other departments of local government, the better it will be for everyone in the community as a whole.'

Format was otherwise little changed from its predecessor The Councillor, and it continued as a quarterly publication.

Copies of Vol. 1, No's 1-8 (1972-1974) are also held elsewhere in the Bodleian, but no others, and it is assumed that this publication did not survive beyond 1974.