leahortez86: Election 2011: 'Our coalition worked in the short-term for the good of the city'

Friday, April 29, 2011

Election 2011: 'Our coalition worked in the short-term for the good of the city'

COALITION leaders are unanimous in their view that Stoke-on-Trent's makeshift administration has been a success.

Labour, the Conservative and Independent Alliance, City Independents and Liberal Democrats joined forces after elections in May last year.

The Labour group held 26 seats after a strong performance in the local polls but no overall majority.

Eight Conservative and Independent Alliance, eight City Independents and four Liberal Democrats made up the rest of the partnership as it devised a strategy for cuts of �36 million.

Staffordshire University's politics specialist Mick Temple, pictured below, believes cuts to local services will leave some voters wanting to lash out – but they might not be sure who to attack.

He said: "All groups will have been tarnished.

"One of the big problems of a coalition is voters not knowing who to blame and where to go if they feel all are to blame.

"It's difficult for the electorate and I think the response will be a very low turnout in Stoke-on-Trent.

"I would normally say one year into a new government the opposition would benefit, but Labour are a big part of the unpopular local cuts."

Labour and council leader Mohammed Pervez, above right, believes voters will recognise that the coalition delivered on pledges to tackle anti-social behaviour, improve dementia care, and apprenticeships – as well as delivering a balanced budget.

He said: "The coalition has performed well. Some of our opponents thought we'd fall apart but that didn't happen.

"It was a one-year agreement with the purpose of putting aside political differences for the greater good of the city, because there were big decisions to be made.

"We have worked hard to bring consistent leadership and we have provided that."

Conservative and Independent Alliance leader Ross Irving, left, the council's deputy leader, said members successfully set aside differences for the city's good.

He said: "Decisions had to be taken economically and I think the groups – certainly the leadership – knew if we continued playing politics it wouldn't be of any benefit to the city.

"It was felt leadership should be put before tribal politics. We had to deliver a balanced budget and we did it.

"When you have to save �36 million you can't just get a new quote for paper clips, you've got drastic reductions."

Liberal Democrat leader Kieran Clarke, cabinet member for resources, said: "There has been some hard decisions but they are decisions that have been put off for years.

"I've always said that everyone agrees on 95 per cent of things. It's the remaining five or 10 per cent they are left to argue over."

Brian Ward, leader of the City Independents, added: "The coalition has performed in difficult times. What we've done is phenomenal. When we first saw �36 million to cut we were in a state of real concern. But we have protected most front line services."

But councillor Mick Salih, spokesman for the opposition Community Voice group, said: "I think they have saved some of the really difficult decisions for after the election.

"Without the work of our members, more would have been cut."