Deal or no deal?
deal or no deal...'Labour woos the Lib Dems in bid to secure power' gushes The Daily Echo today. I saw a number of Labour Councillors on Tuesday evening and they are not only sure that they should form the administration, (indeed that they have a duty to do so apparently!) but also they are convinced that this is the eventuality that is going to happen!
Personally, I'm far from sure. After all the Conservatives won 9 out of the 17 seats they contested and the largest share of the popular vote which meant we now tie with Labour.
Surely Labour will not go ahead with the 'Single Service Partnership' outsourcing venture with Capita after all they said about it in their election leaflets? -And if they drop it, would the Lib-Dems really feel able to support them, bearing in mind how strongly they support the SSP project and the millions of pounds of public money already spent on the scheme?
At this point in time, Labour are not back in control in Southampton by a long-chalk, any claims by their members to the contrary is just wishful thinking.
posted by Matt Dean at 3:13 pm
3 Comments:
So would the Tories do a deal with the Lib Dems?
Depends what the 'deal' was, I guess. Some possible choices-
1) Full coalition- very unlikely, not least as they were so soundly beaten
2) Formal arrangement where they support us on a vote by vote basis- I can't see this working or what the basis of such an agreement would be.
3) Lib-Dems supporting us to form the Executive but giving them the freedom to oppose us from the opposition benches- possibly, and this might be facilitated by giving them (say) the Chairs of some panels with enhanced powers of scrutiny.
Politics is (or should be) a relatively grown up sport so I guess there is no harm in exploring these possibilities fully before the Annual Council meeting on wed.
The Lib Dems should not be invited to join either the Tories or Labour in any form of argeement following their loses on May 3rd 2007 in Southampton.
Local residents deserted the Lib Dems as they are fed up with what they have done to the city.
I do believe as the Conservatives recieved the highest number of votes then they should lead the council.
Saying that I hope they elect a new group leader.
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