LIBERAL DEMOCRATS LEFT JILTED AT THE ALTER BY THE CONSERVATIVE MAYOR

2.57.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Jun 2007

The Conservative Mayor Nick Bye has turned his back on a partnership agreement with the Liberal Democrat Group on Torbay Council. During talks between the two parties it became clear that the mayor did not want a written agreement between the two parties, and had gone back on his offer of a place on the Cabinet for the Liberal Democrat group.

Following the meeting this morning the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Cllr Darling said:

"I was very disappointed with our meeting with the Mayor and his Conservative Colleague Cllr Carroll this morning. It appears that he has reneged on his initial offer following the elections of a place on the Cabinet for the Liberal Democrat group. All we were seeking was a written understanding between the two parties, as there is in a number of local authorities such as Newcastle under Lyme and Camden. The Mayor does not seem to want to engage in grown up mature politics. I shall be speaking with my group about the situation at a meeting tomorrow."

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Cllr Doggett, who was also at the meeting said:

"I left the meeting very frustrated. The attitude of the Conservatives is that they expect to be in power in Torbay for the next 20 years and no one else will get a look in."