CITY OF PRESTON LABOUR PARTY

Preston Council’s Tory/Lib Dem coalition has descended into panic, claim local Labour Councillors, following the landslide victory for Labour in the recent Riversway by-election.

The Liberal Democrats have suffered another shock resignation, as long standing councillor, Mike Onyon, has resigned his seat, forcing yet another by-election in Preston. The taxpayer will have to bear the cost of the by-election - Riversways' was at least £5000.

Amid further cracks appearing in the coalition, there are reports that the Tories have offered positions on key committees to independent Councillors, in a desperate bid to hang on to power.

The Riversway by-election saw a massive victory for Labour, despite the Tories and Lib Dems joining forces to increase the chances of the Lib Dem candidate.  The Tories did not stand at the by-election, in a blatant attempt to bolster the Lib Dem vote, and there is evidence that the Lib Dems briefed the Tories on how their campaign was going.

Labour councillors believe that there is particular pressure on the Liberal Democrats, who made attempts to open discussions with Labour councillors shortly after the by-election, but were quickly rebuffed. Signs of this pressure seem confirmed with this recent, shock resignation.

Leader of the Preston Labour group, Cllr John Collins, expressed astonishment at the apparent collapse of discipline from the administration “Labour is obviously in a much stronger position now, but I’m surprised at how desperate the Tories and Liberal Democrats have become.  Coalitions are meant to be stable, but this one is falling to pieces. They are in panic and collapse.”

Preston Labour councillors are due to discuss these developments at a group meeting in two weeks.