The Lib Dems and Labour have finally agreed to form a coalition to run South Gloucestershire Council. Talks have lasted two weeks between the two groups who both made gains at this month’s local elections, and the deadlock was broken on Friday afternoon (May 19).
The alliance will replace the Conservatives who were in power since 2015 but lost their overall majority at the polls on Thursday, May 4, although they remain the largest single group with 23 councillors compared with 20 Liberal Democrats and 17 Labour members. Lib Dem group leader Cllr Claire Young will become council leader and her Labour counterpart Cllr Ian Boulton will be the authority’s co-leader, with both positions to be confirmed at a meeting of full council on Wednesday, May 24.
The Tories have branded the deal “the worst of all worlds” and claim it will result in higher costs and poorer public services. Labour and Lib Dems say their agreement includes a shared focus on the climate emergency and helping residents with the cost-of-living crisis.
