Lib Dems collapse in Birmingham as Labour gains

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Local Government

The Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition running Birmingham City Council just managed to retain its grip on power, but lost a combined total of 13 seats to Labour.

The Liberal Democrats saw their share of the vote in the city plunge to just 14.7%, according to initial estimates, as voters apparently railed against the national Government's programme of cuts.

Labour's gains, achieved with a 48.5% share of the vote, saw the party pull within six seats of regaining overall control of the largest local council in Europe for the first time since 2004.

Speaking as the first Labour gains in the city were confirmed, the MP for Birmingham Erdington, Jack Dromey, said it was clear the Liberal Democrat vote in the city had "collapsed".

The Labour MP said: "People don't like cuts to the police and they don't like broken promises.

"The people of Birmingham have sent an unmistakable message - they certainly don't like what the Government is doing."

Predicting that Labour would take control of the city council at the next local elections, Mr Dromey added: "You can never take the electorate for granted, but I think the momentum is absolutely clear - we will see a Labour council again in Birmingham in 2012."

Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Tilsley, the deputy leader of Birmingham's partnership administration, conceded his party's vote appeared to have suffered because of national issues.

Mr Tilsley commented: "It does seem that we are having to pay for some of the unpopular decisions that the coalition have made at a national level.

"We did the right thing for the country - it's unfortunate that the electorate, having kicked out a failed Labour government 12 months ago, are now suffering with a major bout of amnesia."