Labour hold on to council reins thanks to the Greens and Tory

10.33.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th May 2007

The Labour Party have taken minority control of Sheffield City Council thanks to the two Green Councillors and one Tory Councillor

The Labour Party have taken minority control of Sheffield City Council thanks to the two Green Councillors and one Tory Councillor letting down the thousands of people who voted for change in the recent local elections.

At the councils AGM today the Greens and Tory didn't vote against Labour taking administration. Labour then voted in favour of the Tory member, Cllr Anne Smith, taking the chair of an important scrutiny board of the council. The Lib Dems failed in their bid to form a new administration by just one vote.

Labour have 41 members the Lib Dems have 39 the Greens have 2 and there is one Tory and one Independent. As the Greens and Tory didn't vote on who would form the administration Labour won by one single vote. The Independent member, Cllr Martin Davis, voted against Labour.

The move comes despite the Lib Dems gaining four seats at the last election, three from Labour and one form the Tories.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council, said: -

"The Greens and the Tory have allowed Labour to stay in power against the wishes of the people of Sheffield who voted for change on May 3rd. I'm particularly surprised by the Greens who have criticised Labour on a number of issues, such as privatisation of local schools. Yet when to comes to the crunch they have allowed Labour to stay in power and in a strong position to push through such unpopular policies."

"I'm sure all those who voted for the Greens or the Conservatives at the last election will be surprised and disappointed at this outcome. The two Green councillors and the Tory will now have to explain why they have allowed Labour to carry on implementing unpopular policies."

"Liberal Democrats will now form the major opposition. We will work with Labour and others on issues that we share common ground on. However, on some issues where we believe Labour has got it wrong we will put forward alternatives that have been endorsed by the people of Sheffield on May 3rd."