“Many opportunities ahead”, Says Labour Group Leader in Response to Lib Dems

Responding to a statement by Lib Dem Group Leader at Lichfield District Council, the Leader of the largest Opposition Labour Group Cllr Sue Woodward said:

“I think Cllr Ray has proved my point for me. 

Let me explain this really clearly and simply to him and to others accusing me and my Labour Group of missing an opportunity to seize control, of staying on the side-lines or of some sort of moral cowardice.

The electorate in Lichfield District have voted for change, the sort of change I‘ve longed for in the 24 years that Labour has been in opposition here.  No longer do the Conservatives have a majority of 21 as they did at the last election; they have no overall majority at all. This opens up many opportunities ahead for other voices to be heard especially the voices of residents who have not been listened to in the past.

However, the reality is that Lichfield District electors, in spite of what a Conservative Government have thrown at them, still voted for more Conservatives councillors than Labour or Lib Dem councillors: 23 Conservatives, 17 Labour and 7 Lib Dems. I may not like it, I certainly wish it had been different but that is the reality.

If we had gone into some sort of pact, that would have given a majority of one for a Labour/Lib Dem administration. That would mean that every single Labour and Lib Dem councillor would have to attend every single meeting of the Council to take decisions forward – and electors should take a look at the attendance records up to now of some of the key people in this debate.

That would lead to instability and uncertainty and a lack of progress on subjects which electors have been crying out for –  leisure facilities in Lichfield, the promised cinema, action on the pile of rubble that is Friarsgate but also on real investment in my town of Burntwood, in Fazeley and in the rural villages which all appear to be invisible to the Lib Dem Group.

I firmly believe that there are many more opportunities now for all voices to be heard and that is what I am hearing from the current Conservative leadership. If Labour and the Lib Dems don’t like a proposal from the Conservatives or they don’t come up with a budget that spreads the Council’s resources more fairly, then we can vote against it. At last, it gives a look-in to long-neglected areas and issues such as climate change.

This is a time for cool, calm heads and a focus on residents’ priorities rather than what might seem on the surface to be quick and easy fixes. Cllr Ray and his colleagues need to compose themselves, think this through in a far less heated way and remember that Labour will keep this constantly under review, not just in a knee-jerk less than a week after the elections but for the four years ahead.”