COME the morning of May 2, there may be around five councillors brokering how Liverpool is run over the next two years.

They are the three Liberals, led by Cllr Steve Radford, who is up for election in Tuebrook, Green Cllr John Coyne, and independent Nadia Stewart.

If neither the Liberal Democrats nor Labour have an overall majority, 46 councillors or more, the way these five decide to vote will determine what type of council Liverpool has.

Cllr Stewart resigned from Labour a month after last year’s local election, and is unlikely to side with her former party. No love is lost on either side.

Both Cllr Radford and Cllr Coyne have said they will not be seeking to enter a coalition, but will want certain concessions.

Both are demanding a “stabilisation” of the city’s finances.

Cllr Coyne, who is hoping to be joined by another Green colleague on the council, said: “We are not going to be a maverick outfit, and we will not expect to get everything we want.

“But we will be seeking some green policies.”

He said the council’s “failure” to address the road around Sefton Park was high on his agenda.

“I want to restore the link between the park and the neighbourhoods and reduce the traffic and its speed on the road.”

Cllr Radford has set out three “tests” against which Labour and the Lib-Dems will be measured.

First are sound finances. Second is to stop demolitions under Housing Market Renewal Initiative (HMRI), and third is for no more development on parks or green spaces.

“Both parties are starting to accept criticism about HRMI. If there was a balance in power, it would force the debate.

“We will also want a commitment to stop building on our Victorian parks and open spaces.

“They are unique and part of our history, and we should stop throwing it away.”