Labour is refusing to give up on running Stockport council this year despite trailing the Liberal Democrats, who again emerged as the largest group at last week’s local elections. The Lib Dems wiped out the Conservatives to come within a whisker of taking the 32 seats needed to form a majority and automatically take control of the town hall for the next 12 months.
But Labour gains at their expense in Offerton, and Bredbury and Woodley, denied them the chance to move the authority out of ‘no overall control’ for the first time since 2011. The results mean the Lib Dems now hold 30 of the authority’s 63 seats, while Labour has 24 - fewer than it had last May, but four more than it had following a number of acrimonious resignations over recent months.
That puts the smaller groups - Edgeley Community Association (ECA), the Greens and Independent Ratepayers have three members each - in a kingmaker position. Who runs the council over the coming municipal year will be thrashed over the coming days and weeks- as deals are made and alliances sought ahead of the annual council meeting later.
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With the Lib Dems just shy of the 32 seats needed to claim control of the council by right - six ahead of Labour - it seemed Labour would struggle to make an argument for taking back the reins they relinquished last year. But Lib Dem leader Coun Mark Hunter said he would be making no assumptions in the immediate wake of the election - recalling the controversial Tory/Labour pact that blocked his party from forming the administration in 2021.
And it appears he was right to be cautious, with new Labour group leader Coun David Meller confirming he will look to forge alliances with the smaller parties in a bid to see Labour back at the town hall helm. “We are absolutely going to give it a go,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “I think it’s incumbent on us to do so. We will talk with anyone who shares our vision in terms of what we are trying to do.”
Coun Meller stresses that his group’s ambitions are spelled out in its manifesto which is ‘out there for all to see and read’. “Obviously we will work with others who may want to work with us,” he added. “We will have those discussions and go from there.
“I appreciate the arithmetic and the Lib Dems being the biggest group, but the council is in no overall control and we are absolutely going to try and see what we can do.”
The Lib Dems would only need the backing of two councillors to reach a majority and, effectively, take control of the council. Coun Meller acknowledges the three-strong Independent Ratepayer tend to support the largest group - an exception being in 2021 when they backed then Labour council leader Elise Wilson to stay in post until the end of her term.
But he still believes the fight for the town hall remains very much in play.
“While the council is in no overall control there is a potential path forward and we will explore it and see what we can do and go from there. I’m all ears to speak to anyone that might want to help deliver our goals and - if they share our goals - to see what we can do.”
The Manchester Evening News understands that the Edgeley Community Association - formed by ex Labour councillor Matt Wynne following his fallout out with the ‘far left’ of the local party - approves of the council group’s decision to appoint Coun Meller as its new leader.
It seems likely Coun Meller could count on ECA’s three votes should it come down to it at the Annual Council meeting - although this would not be enough to form a majority.
Labour would need the backing of the Independent Ratepayers and the Greens to pass the 32-seat threshold. That would seem to put the Lib Dems very much in the driving seat. Party insiders privately believe there is little to discuss.
Given the group’s clear numerical advantage they believe it should be as simple as handing Labour the scrutiny committee chairs while they form the cabinet and administration. But - speaking immediately after the election result - Coun Hunter said he would not be racing to any conclusions.
“There have been some some strange coalitions over the years, it’s not that long ago since Labour did a deal with the Conservatives - but they have not got that option any more,” he said, alluding to the controversial machinations after the 2021 local election.
“I’m not making any assumptions we will continue, but we are positive about our chances of doing so. We have had a good first year and that’s reflected in the results and we hope to continue the good work we have started at the town hall.”
Coun Gary Lawson, leader of the Green Party, says his party has not made any decisions as yet - but that there were two important criteria they would be looking for.
“First of all we will always put the residents of Reddish South ward and their interests firsts.
“And the other thing is that it’s really important that the council has the right policy on climate change. At the last two elections we have actually abstained because we felt that neither of the two larger parties [Labour and the Lib Dems] has the right policies.
“That’s not to say that we would do the same this time but that would be a very big consideration for us in terms of whether we abstain again.”
Stockport’s annual council meeting has been separated into two parts, so as to separate the mayor-making and ceremonial proceedings from the political cut and thrust of deciding on the new administration.
The first takes place on Tuesday, May 23. It is the adjourned and reconvened on Thursday, May 25, when who runs the council for the next year will be agreed and formalised.
Read more of today's top stories here.
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