I’ve been thinking about the Colchester City Council coalition fuck up. Make no mistake, this is a right old balls up that has no easy way of being resolved.
The bonkers election by thirds system of local governance doesn’t help. It just means that when you have new politics and a multi-party format coming into play, then the old structure struggles even more than a more traditional four-yearly cycle.
With so few seats up for election each time, a complete change, as is the case back in Lambeth, is almost impossible. The system was designed for incremental changes, with the old three-party structure only being able to form a new administration and take control if there was a momentous shift in the electorate.
What we now have, with a multi-party system in the Town Hall, coupled with the three Labour splitters, is something of a right old cock up.
I’m rather pleased, to be honest. The Lib Dems and Labour took this for granted for too long. There was almost a sense of entitlement that they could rely upon each other, or even some random Green support to bail them out with a rainbow coalition.
I’ve absolutely no love for the Colchester Tories. In the 16 years I’ve been living here, they have consistently held the largest number of seats. They’ve been locked out of power for all but one of those years. This doesn’t feel right.
Throw into the equation, to add a little extra confusion, are the five new Reform Councillors. It seems that they are too extreme for the Tories to consider forming a coalition with.
Which leaves us with a right old mix of different political parties that have varying levels of agreement, but are unable to work together to form one consensus administration.
The Labour splitters are key to all of this. Sure, they have their reasons. These may - or may not - be the reasons given to the local paper. They bemoan the lack of funding for their own particular wards. The local Labour Party, like most local Labour parties, is dripping deep in bitterness and factionalism.
All eyes now turn to a reconvened AGM scheduled to take place at the town hall on Wednesday. It seems likely that a Tory-led coalition with the Lib Dems is the only possible solution.
Colchester is a funny old town/city, in many aspects. One of those is the very well-meaning centrist Lib Dem streak that still runs strong throughout the town, if not the whole of the borough.
It’s almost a civic interpretation of what it means to be liberal with a small l. There is local pride in the area, often channelled through a centrist streak. I can’t see this core part of the electorate reacting favourably if their elected representatives decide to prop up a Tory administration.
It’s the system that is fucked, of course. I hate the phrase that voters get the administration they deserve. People voted for different parties for many different reasons.
Having a bonkers election by third system, also weighed down heavily with first last the post has finally snapped in Colchester. Proportional representation can’t come quick enough.