Marathon meeting aims to resolve leadership dilemma

May 19 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

WIRRAL could find itself with a new administration tonight – if the three political parties can agree.

At the meeting of the full council tonight, it is hoped that the deadlock which has persisted since the local elections will be resolved.

The authority has been described as being in “limbo” since the Conservatives took four seats at May 1 election to become the largest party, but still well short of the 34 councillors needed for a working majority.

The election saw the Tories end up with 24 seats, Labour with 21 and the Lib-Dems on 20, with one independent.

Last Wednesday night’s cabinet meeting, at Wallasey Town Hall, was meant to recommend the make-up of the new cabinet, but no proposals were forthcoming and it was agreed that all parties would meet ahead of full council today when each political group would make its recommendations.

Tonight, it is expected the Lib-Dems will propose three-way power-sharing with the cabinet comprising four Conservatives, three Labour and three Liberal Democrats.

The Lib-Dems have ruled out continuing the two-way power-sharing with Labour, and the Conservatives have said they do not trust the other parties after they were kicked off the cabinet by a Labour-Lib-Dem pact 12 months ago.

Labour are themselves expected to meet to decide their strategy, but a lack of numbers means they cannot vote themselves back into power.

After the cabinet meeting last week, Tory leader Jeff Green said he was disappointed he had not been allowed to put any proposals to cabinet.

The Conservatives will tonight propose a Tory administration led by Mr Green, who would become leader of Wirral Council, but without Labour or the Liberal Democrats at least abstaining the other two parties could still vote down the Conservative proposal. Cllr Green said: “It seems to me they have not listened to what the public have said in the election and they are just not responding.”

He said his party would be asking full council to allow his party to form a minority administration, but current council leader Steve Foulkes insisted there was a degree of “hysteria” following the election.

He said there had been no demands for a minority administration when his party was the largest group, but did not command an overall majority.

Cllr Foulkes said: “We accept it was a poor result but most people would acknowledge it was more to do with national politics.”

He said his party is the only group with councillors in all four constituencies in Wirral.

Lib-Dem leader Simon Holbrook said, alluding to the situation five years ago when the council was in deadlock and required numerous meetings to form an administration, that the meeting could be a lengthy one.

He added: “It might go into extra time and penalties, but hopefully there will be no replay.”

liammurphy