Call for coalition to run council
Wednesday 9th May 2007, 11:55AM BST.
The Conservative and Labour groups on Telford & Wrekin Council are being urged to put aside party politics to form a “grand coalition” to run the borough on behalf of the people.
The challenge was issued today by the three minority groups which hold the balance of power on the “hung” authority.
The Independents, Liberal Democrats and Telford & Wrekin People’s Association (TAWPA) say they will not be picked off in power bid by the main parties.
Labour lost control of the council for the first time in Thursday’s elections. The Tories, with 25 seats, are the biggest single grouping, while Labour has 19.
An administration is yet to be formed, with all group leaders involved in talks.
The Independents, Liberal Democrats and TAWPA, with 10 councillors between them, met last night.
In a statement today, they said: “In the interests of the people of the borough, and while retaining their respective independence, the Independents, Liberal Democrats and TAWPA are approaching both parties with a view of forming a grand coalition.”
Councillor Bill Tomlinson, Lib Dem leader, said there was public support “for everyone on the council to work together”.
Councillor Gary Davies, Independent leader, said people wanted “to keep politics out of their council” and Councillor Adrian Williams, of TAWPA, said the message was “people before politics”.
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The council wants to remember that it is the people that elect them and they should be working for the good of the people. If they do not have the good of Telford in their hearts they should not be on the council at all.
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It looks as though local politics are about to become a lot more interesting!!
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There is so little difference between the major parties in terms of policy these days that the idea of a coalition should not be the no-go area that it once was. My suggestion: concentrate on sensible policies that don’t make life more difficult for Telford’s working population – less nannying over recycling and more actions to keep the traffic moving rather than constant obstacles.
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Labour lost the council election because people are fed up with them. why burden the people with these councillors again when the message is clear. NO MORE. it seems the minority parties are too bothered thinking of themselves and NOT the electorate. Do what the people want and let the Conservatives form the council
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I must play my 78rpm LAUGHING POLICEMAN record on my 1930′s gramophone player whilst reading the above article.
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How can the minor (and they really are very minor) parties claim they want to `keep politics out of their council’ when they engage in a shameless, naked piece of politicking like this?!
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Steve,
The point is that no-one has an overall majority, so one prospect for making progress in a spirit of co-operation would be a coalition. Of course, as the largest party, the Tories could attempt to take a lead in the council, but as soon as they started to do something vaguely controversial, such as cutting back on essential public services, they would be voted down.
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