Door open for talks on coalition option

The leader of Wolverhampton’s jubilant Tory group today said “the door is open” for talks with the Liberal Democrats about taking over control of the city council.

Councillor Neville Patten said he would be willing to talk to the city’s five-strong Liberal group in order to form a powerful minority administration which would deprive Labour of power. Labour, which runs the authority, suffered a massive blow in the city when it lost overall control in the local elections after taking a battering at the ballot box.

It lost Mayor Trudy Bowen and another seven councillors in a torrid set of results, leaving it still in minority control - but at the mercy of a potential coalition by the two rival groups.

Overall Labour lost eight seats while the Conservatives gained eight - leaving the controlling group with only one more councillor than the Tory group.

Councillor Patten said: “We are over the moon with what happened because I expected to win four seats. The other gains were bonuses. We were hoping to run some seats close, but not win them,” he explained.”We ran a great campaign and I am delighted at what our candidates achieved because they worked very hard to get votes and this is their just rewards, it’s the cream on the cake.”

“We have got our AGM on Tuesday night and as we are a democratic group I will go with whatever the group decides. When I speak to my group it will be all about doing what is best for Wolverhampton,” he said.

“If the Liberal Democrats want to talk to us, the door is open for them. The Liberals might talk to us but they might talk to Labour, who knows. But whatever happens, we have dealt Labour a severe blow in this city,” he added.

Councillor Michael Heap, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has refused to comment on power-sharing but his party is free to join either Labour or the Tories to have a grip on the control.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of the city council, has said Labour’s election losses were “at the top end” of his fears but is vowing to stay on as leader of a minority administration.

By Tom Edwards