Lib Dems seek rainbow administration

2.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 10th May 2006

Cllr Keith Moffitt, Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Camden Council, is to meet the new leaders of the Labour and Conservative parties to discuss the possibility of a three-way administration. The meeting is to take place today, Wednesday 10 May, at 5.30 at Camden Town Hall.

The Liberal Democrats won the largest number of seats on Camden Council in the local elections of 4 May 2006, but no single party has an overall majority.

Under the constitution of Camden Council, if no party has a majority, then the party with the largest number of seats should form the Executive.

Cllr Keith Moffitt said:

"As elected Members of Camden Council we must deliver our responsibilities to serve the people of Camden. The people of Camden have put their trust in the Liberal Democrats to lead the administration of the borough.

"We want to demonstrate in our actions the principles of Liberal Democracy, including democracy, fairness and openness. We have been elected on a manifesto and we must implement our policy priorities, including making Camden safer, reforming the parking regime, reflecting a concern for the environment in all that we do, improving the quality of housing and running a council that listens and consults.

"We have the right under the constitution to form the Executive, which is Camden's main decision-making body.

"The new Liberal Democrat Group on the Council has discussed the way forward in great depth, and we believe that in line with our principles and our belief in fair voting systems we should offer both the other major parties an opportunity to play a substantive role in governing Camden. We have therefore offered both the other major parties seats on the Executive.

"We have asked the leaders of the Labour and Conservative parties to respond to our suggestion by Sunday evening (14 May) at the latest."