Lib Dems Likely To Keep Power In Oldham
The Liberal Democrats are likely to hold on to control of the hung Oldham Council, despite losing seats to Labour in Thursday’s local elections. Independent councillor Ian Barker has emerged as a possible ‘kingmaker’ with sources close to the ongoing negotiations suggesting that he could be prepared to support the Lib Dems, helping them keep the main jobs in the council’s cabinet.
The Lib Dems went into Thursday’s poll holding 30 of the 60 seats, and with high hopes of making the solitary gain they needed to take overall control. However, they ended up losing three seats, while Labour gained five, leaving both parties on 27. The Conservatives have five seats, with Cllr Barker holding the other.
If council votes are tied the casting vote goes to the mayor, and that office is going to be held in the coming municipal year by Labour veteran David Jones, meaning the Lib Dems must do some kind of deal with others to hold on. Unsurprisingly, Labour group leader Cllr Jim McMahon has already said he feels he should be the council’s new leader.
The Lib Dems initially indicated they would attempt to reach agreement with the Conservatives. But today, Lib Dem group leader Cllr Howard Sykes has used the Chronicle to call for talks with both Labour and the Tories with a view to forming a ‘cabinet of all the talents’ with members from each of the three parties.
However, there would be obstacles to such a cross-party arrangement. Both Cllr Sykes and Cllr McMahon clearly believe they should be the council’s leader, making it difficult to see how a deal between the Lib Dems and Labour could be reached.
It’s also understood that the Tories have already demanded two seats at the cabinet table. That’s thought to be one more than either the Lib Dems or Labour are prepared to offer.
If cross-party talks fail to reach a coalition deal, it’s thought the Lib Dems would turn to Cllr Barker. He was elected in Failsworth West as a Conservative but now sits as an independent. He switched earlier this year when, after he was cleared of allegedly misusing an official e-mail account, the party insisted he would have to re-apply and win a majority vote to get back into the Tory group.
If Cllr Barker agreed to support the Lib Dems, that could ensure Cllr Sykes remains as the council leader, and that Lib Dems continue to fill the majority of cabinet posts. The only way for Labour to stop such a deal would be to persuade the Conservatives to support them, but it’s thought the Tories wouldn’t be prepared to do that without a guarantee of those two cabinet jobs.
All of this makes the Lib Dems more likely than not to stay as the dominant force in the administration. However, the nature of the council arithmetic means they would find it difficult to get measures through over the course of the coming 12 months without at least tacit support from either Labour or the Conservatives.
Today’s Oldham Chronicle story is here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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