REWIND two years to the aftermath of the last local elections and Sefton Council has been thrown into turmoil.

The borough, which has been hung ever since its creation in 1986, has seen its three-party coalition reduced to tatters.

The fallout from the May, 2008, poll saw inter-party feuds that had been bubbling beneath the surface for months boil over.

Councillors trade barbs over the contents of campaign leaflets and allegations stories had been leaked to the local press.

The Liberal Democrats had further embittered the other parties by winning a seat in Manor ward, which had previously been held by the Conservatives.

For seven weeks, the council is paralysed by deadlock. The Lib- Dems are the biggest party in the council, but have never held an overall majority of seats and need the support of Labour or the Conservatives to make decisions.

Their top man, Cllr Tony Robertson, had been the leader of the council, but neither of the other parties will support his re-election or ratify nominations for the borough’s ruling cabinet.

This brought the council to a shuddering halt and officers complained of feeling “rudderless”. The legal director also issued a “statutory report” saying Sefton ran the risk of being taken over by central Government unless they elected a leader and cabinet.

After nearly two months of bickering and back room negotiations, Cllr Robertson was finally re-appointed leader but as a concession the Labour and Conservative leaders were also made deputy leaders. A new Local Standards Board was created to deal with rogue councillors.

In the months that followed, there were also two defections. Cllr Les Byrom, who represents Dukes ward in Southport, turned his back on the Conservatives and joined Labour.

And Bootle’s Cllr Paul Larkin turned from Labour to the Lib- Dems.

The quiet borough was suddenly anything but. Since then, Sefton has also contended with a budget crisis that threatened 400 jobs and frontline services.