Tories Look to New Leader & A New Partner!

Well the horse trading will begin in earnest over the next few days in Wolverhampton.

Will there be a similar marriage between 'political partners' following the romance between Birmingham Tories and the Liberal Democrats which sweeps on with stunning success in Birmingham .

Will we be seeing a Progressive Partnership Mark 2 here in Wolverhampton taking centre stage in the Black Country?

Certainly before the election there was the sweet sound of 'wooing' when newly elected Tory Leader Neville Patton publicly said he would look closely at such a partnership. Liberal Democrat Mike Heap is also quite keen we hear of such an arrangement. So is it going to happen, that is what Wolverhampton is now waiting to hear!

There is just one little hiccup in that Neville looks likely to have to withstand another bid for leadership from Wendy Thompson the Boadicea from Tettenhall. Now Wendy will want different arrangements from the Lib Deems than Neville will accept. But both Tory Leaders in waiting want the Conservatives to lead the City Council. Nothing will get in the way of that game plan.

On the Labour side, they are still the largest political Party, and it is alleged that some influential players are urging the Group leadership to hijack the Liberal Democrat bride for themselves! By that they are urging the Labour Leadership to take the Liberal Democrats into a 'Super Progressive Partnership' this time with them!

Certainly the Labour Party has experience of running the administration, and there could be just that attraction for the LibDems ( getting into bed with an experienced political partner, may just extend their thrill seeking experience) Having said that there is every chance that such a move would be lip curling for many Labour Party members.

But we know exactly how damaging that Liberal Democrats and Conservatives can be when they lock in an embrace. The last time that happened in 1990 it spawned a Lib Dem Mayor in Richard Whitehouse as part of the deal!

It also led to many cuts in services that were bitterly fought and put the town back years in the eyes of many on the left of the political spectrum.

Would we be looking to see a Mayor Gwinett in any new 2008 deal?

These are the questions that are being publicly debated in political circles, but if Labour is to do such a deal they need to be quick about it and show a little more skilful manoeuvring than they have shown in the past.

I think however my money would be on the Labour Party standing and throwing impediments at the 'wedding ceremony' that will be played out at the Annual Meeting later this month.

On Tuesday night it may be clearer as to which wing of the Conservative Party has triumphed in their election for a new Leader. Spare a thought for Paddy Bradley having led them for a decade she finds herself not only out of office, but having to look on from the stands!

However this is just another week in Wolverhampton politics, which I may add is equally as enthralling as Birmingham's.