Independent saves Liverpool for Lib Dems
The Liberal Democrats have been saved from a setback in the north-east by an independent handing them her support.
Independent Nadia Stewart’s decision to back the Lib Dems means the party has 46 of the council’s 90 seats.
The gap between Labour and the Lib Dems had been halved from 12 to six seats, with the Lib Dems losing three and Labour gaining three.
The city had been Labour’s number one target, according to Lib Dem election chief Lord Rennard, and his fears earlier appeared to have been justified as the city slipped to no overall control.
A Labour insider told politics.co.uk: “This shows that when the Liberal Democrats are in control of a city, they have run it down to be the worst council in the country.
“Despite holding their spring conference in the city earlier in the year the voters have decided that they can’t trust the Liberal Democrats and therefore it’s gone to no overall control.”
But news of Ms Stewart’s change of support meant the Lib Dems could be relieved after all.
“In terms of our council seats, we are holding our own against the high base of 2004 and we are again the clear challengers to Labour in many of its former heartlands,” Lord Rennard said.
