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Labour planning to seize control of Walsall council

Labour will try to seize control of a council if it wins a crucial by-election later this month.

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The party holds 29 seats on Walsall Council, making it the largest individual group.

But it has been kept in opposition by the ruling Conservatives, even though they only have 21 of the seats, because of support from the Liberal Democrats, UKIP and independent councillors.

Labour had 30 of the 60 seats after the local elections in May but days later the party's leader Tim Oliver died.

A by-election to fill his seat in Birchills Leamore will take place on July 24.

The local elections saw Labour gain two more seats but UKIP also gained its first three on Walsall Council.

Now the party's new leader Sean Coughlan has said that it will try to seize control after 14 years in opposition if it retains Councillor Oliver's seat.

The Tories stayed in control after other parties backed them to carry on and the mayor, Democratic Labour councillor Pete Smith, abstained.

But the deadlock will be broken if Labour gets 30 seats to the other parties' 29 and Councillor Smith continues to abstain.

Councillor Coughlan said: "It is incumbent on us to try to take control.

"We have 50 per cent of the seats.

"The election was disappointing and it was also very sad because we lost Tim so soon afterwards."

Asked if the party would go for a no confidence motion in the administration he said: "We will try to do so at the earliest opportunity.

"I hope we will be able to call a special meeting."

David Winnick, Labour MP for Walsall North, said it was wrong for the Tories to stay in power.

He said: "I compare what the Tories have done in Walsall with what Labour tried to do in Government in 2010. They have been defeated and should not be trying to scramble together this coalition.

"Labour has eight more councillors than the Tories and after the by-election, if it goes our way, could have nine more. It should be the party to form the administration."

Last month Labour made a bid to take control but did not have the numbers to do so because of the vacancy left by Councillor Oliver's death.

A vote saw current Tory leader Mike Bird remain in control.

His 21 Tories retained the support of their partners, the Liberal Democrats, who have backed the minority administration since 2012.

The three new UKIP councillors also voted to maintain the current administration along with Darlaston South independents Chris and Paul Bott.

Councillor Bird was not available for comment but previously stressed he had done 'no deals' with other parties to stay in control.

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