Coventry Labour accuse Tories and Lib Dems of secret deal...

[dutchman]

Ruling Labour city councillors are accusing Tories and Lib Dems of striking a secret deal ahead of council elections next month.



The first blows were traded yesterday after Coventry City Council published its list of candidates for all 18 of its 54 seats up for grabs on May 5.

Labour fingers were pointed after the Tory candidate dropped out in Henley ward at the last minute – a key target seat for the Lib Dems being defended by Labour cabinet member Lynnette Kelly.

There was a surprise with the Lib Dems only fielding nine candidates – a poorer showing than the British National Party with 13 candidates.

The Green Party is fielding 17, and the Socialist Alternative has candidates in all 18 wards.

Labour also accused the Lib Dems of tactically dropping out in key battleground wards to give the Tories – their coalition partners in Westminster – a free run against Labour.

They include Labour-held marginal Wyken, and key Conservative-held seats targeted by Labour such as Westwood and Cheylesmore – where leading Tory Kevin Foster is standing against high-profile Labour candidate Alison Gingell, chairman of health trust NHS Coventry.

City Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson stepped in to the row, saying: “The Tories and Lib Dems have clearly struck a deal locally, as they have nationally, to work together to serve each other’s political interests.

“They are trying to stitch up the outcome, which is extremely dangerous and arrogant, as it’s a slap in the face to their loyal supporters.”

Lib Dem Brian Patton is standing in Henley against Coun Kelly, after Tory candidate Steven Keough withdrew at the eleventh hour, allegedly for “personal reasons”.

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