'They're lazy!' Walsall Council Tory leader blames voters for 'disgraceful' low turnout

Conservative leader Councillor Mike Bird has wished the Labour and Liberal Democrat administration well but branded 20-odd per cent turnout 'disgraceful'.

Councillor Bird added that his Conservative party would provide 'responsible opposition' and hold the next administration to account.

• MORE: Full Walsall Council election results ward by ward

• MORE: Walsall Labour leader pledges power to the people

It was a disappointing election night for the Tories as they failed to gain ground in Walsall, and lost a key ally in independent councillor Pete Smith.

With no seats gained and a voting partner lost, they are now set to lose control of the council to Labour who will form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats next week.

But Councillor Bird does not have 'sour grapes' and has wished the best of luck to the incoming administration.

He said: "I wish them well. It is a difficult job and they will have difficult decisions to make as any administration would.

"Local government is all about numbers and if you don't have the numbers you don't win.

"It is not sour grapes but I have to say the turnout this year was disgraceful. There is no excuse not to vote, it is just laziness.

"These people will then complain at the decisions made by the administrations but I am sorry that is not how it works if you can't be bothered to get off your backside."

Speaking about the role his party would play going forward, Councillor Bird added: "We will be a responsible opposition party.

"We will look at things critically and if we feel things need challenging then we will have decisions called in and go through the scrutiny process."

The Conservatives had run the council for 15 out of the last 16 years, with Councillor Bird at the helm for most of these years. In recent times they relied on the support of UKIP councillors and independents to push their policies through.

They lost control to Labour back in August 2014 but quickly regained it the following year, with Councillor Bird stating he had 'made more comebacks than Gone with the Wind'.

As revealed by the Express & Star yesterday, the incoming Labour administration is looking at plans to have devolved budgets for the wards in Walsall so local people would be able to decide where certain money is spent.

An example given by Labour leader Councillor Sean Coughlan was road maintenance and the repairing of roads and footpaths.