Greens hold key to political power in Reading

Published 6 May 2011 15:30 5 Comments

THE future of Reading Borough Council hangs in the balance with Labour ending the local election count with the same number of seats as the ruling Tory-Lib Dem Coalition.

On a bad day for the Lib Dems the biggest scalp was that of its party leader, and deputy council leader, Kirsten Bayes, who lost her seat in Redlands. The party also lost the two other seats it was defending, including one in its traditional Tilehurst stronghold, where sitting councillor Chris Harris came second behind Tory Sandra Vickers.

Ms Bayes said she did not regret forming a coalition with the Tories last May and refused to condemn the party decion to share power nationally. She added: "What we've been doing in the council and nationally is really, really difficult.

"People don't realise how desperate it is. It is going to take time for people to see what's been done and I think they will appreciate and respect the Lib Dems for it."

Friday's results leave Labour with 22 seats, after successfully defending six and gaining three - Katesgrove and Redlands from the Lib Dems and Church from the Tories - and the Conservatives on 16, after successfully defending four, losing two and gaining one. The Libs Dems are left with six.

The Greens were given cause for celebration after candidate Melanie Eastwood won Park ward, making her the party's second councillor.

Labour could now rule as a minority administration, as could a Tory-Lib Dem Coalition, but the balance of power is likely to be swung by a partnership with the Greens.

Enjoying being in the limelight, Green councillor Rob White told The Chronicle he will talk to party colleagues over the weekend and added: "I am extremely happy. The result is a reflection of 12 months' hard work."

Cllr White was spotted deep in conversation with Labour leader, Jo Lovelock, and it is understood they will be meeting early next week. But as he left the count, he was also handed a business card by Tory leader Andrew Cumpsty, who asked him to give him a call. Asked if he would join forces with the Greens, Cllr Cumpsty said: "That is entirely up to them."

He added: "Labour have failed to take the council. Ed Milliband can't take a council they controlled for three decades, he is failing totally and miserably. We have done amazing things in Reading in the past year with the Lib Dems and I'm incredibly proud of our record."

Cllr Lovelock confirmed Labour will seek to form an administration and said the result shows people in Reading are fed up with the Coalition locally and nationally. She added: "People are particularly angry at the Lib Dems, they have done really badly and the Tory have lost seats."

.............................................

THAMES: CON HOLD

Duncan Bruce (Lab) 821

Danny McNamara (Green) 439

Guty Penman (LD) 522

JEANETTE SKEATS (Con) 2,139

...............................................

PARK: GREEN GAIN FROM CON

MELANIE Eastwood (Green) 1,585

Wazir Hussain (Con) 732

Richard McKenzie (Lab) 1,213

Hoyte Swagger (LD) 123

.............................................

BATTLE: LABOUR HOLD

Michael Diamond 81

Imraan Ishtiaq (Con) 690

Adam Lockey (Green) 181

CHRIS MASKELL (Lab) 1,373

John Oakley (LD) 230

Jean Louis Pascual (Rom) 30

................................................

NORCOT: LABOUR HOLD

Naz Bashir (Con) 650

GRAEME HOSKIN (Lab) 1,557

David Patterson (Green) 220

Peresttrelo 233

............................................

SOUTHCOTE: LABOUR HOLD

PETE RUHEMANN (Lab) 1,543

James Towell (Green) 157

Robert Vickers (Con) 858

David Warren (LD) 193

.............................................

REDLANDS: LABOUR GAIN FROM LD

Kirsten Bayes (Lib Dem) 757

JAN GAVIN (Lab) 1,295

Ed Hopper (Con) 526

Mark Walker (Green) 345

.............................................

PEPPARD: CONSERVATIVE HOLD

David Absolom (Lab) 671

Madeline Adams (LD) 523

Kate Day (Green) 340

RICHARD WILLIS (Con) 2,109

...........................................

KATESGROVE: LABOUR GAIN FROM LD

Leo Lester (Con): 431

Margaret McNeill (LD): 592

Luis Mendez (Common Sense): 54

Kizzi Murtagh (Green): 165

MATT RODDA (Lab) 1100

Michael Turberville (Ind): 36

............................................

MINSTER: LABOUR HOLD

Suni Ghandi (Green) 220

PAUL GITTINGS (Lab) 1,447

Julie Hopkins (LD) 286

Alanzo Seville (Con) 1,066

..............................................

KENTWOOD: TORY HOLD

JAMES ANDERSON (Con) 1,369

Kevin Jackson (Green) 177

Meri O'Connell (LD) 247

Matthew Plunlett (Com) 134

Daya Singh (Lab) 1,159.

...........................................

CHURCH: LABOUR GAIN FROM CON

Kim Maysh (Com) 221

Geoff Poland (Con) 901

Jon Roberts (Green) 192

Anthony Warrell (LD) 181

PAUL WOODWARD (Lab) 1,239.

.............................................

TILEHURST: TORY GAIN FROM LD

Doug Cresswell (Green) 159

Chris Harris (LD) 957

SANDRA VICKERS (Con) 1,146

Rose Williams (Lab) 774.

.............................................

ABBEY: LABOUR HOLD

MOHAMMED AYUB (Lab) 1,298

George Hughes (LD) 369

Vivienne Johnson (Green) 293

Richard Nante (Con) 699

Bob O'Neil (Com) 119

.............................................

CAVERSHAM: CONSERVATIVE HOLD

Jenny Lawrence (Green) 438

TOM STANWAY (Con) 1,335

Esther Walter (Lab) 977

Jenny Woods (LD) 366.

..............................................

WHITLEY: LABOUR HOLD

Michael Doyle (Con) 572

KELLY EDWARDS (Lab) 1,331

Keith Johnson (Green) 88

Howard Thomas (Com) 27

Jamie Wake (LD) 140.

............................................

Key:

Conservatives (Con)

Labour (Lab)

Lib Dems (LD)

Green (Green)

Common Sense Party (Com)

Roman Party! Ave (Rom)

Independent (Ind).

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 06 May 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Whitley Sam
  Unregistered User
  May 6, 16:20
  Report comment

  Nice one Greens - Lib Dems pay the price for allowing Tories to run riot with their cuts
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  observer
  Unregistered User
  May 6, 16:58
  Report comment

  Bayes just doesn't get it, does she?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Gnomalarta
  Unregistered User
  May 8, 10:13
  Report comment

  Just don't do a deal with the Tories!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  waswasere
  5 posts
  May 9, 19:31
  Report comment

  Not the greatest advertisement for the local media and their ability to get facts right. Lib Dems have 5 councillors not 6.
  
  I too could hold the balance of power. I'm eagerly waiting for an invitation to a meeting with Jo Lovelock... if she survives tonight's Labour leadership election.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  coach outlet
  Unregistered User
  May 10, 02:47
  Report comment

  Great post!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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