Labour holds on to city council

Labour has kept control of Bristol City Council, despite being backed by only 25 councillors out of 70.

The biggest group, the Lib Dems, turned down the chance to take control of the city from Labour.

Last year, the Conservatives supported Labour, which had been in charge of the hung council for the past 12 months.

But the Tories said they would no longer back Labour and voted against them. Labour's Helen Holland was still re-elected council leader.

'City's future'

She held on to power after the Lib Dems decided to abstain in the crucial vote.

Ms Holland said the turmoil did not portray a good image of the city.

She said: "The political parties cannot apparently get their act together. We cannot play politics with Bristol's future in this way."

Conservative councillor Richard Eddy said the Liberal Democrats were afraid.

"They were afraid and their leader was afraid to actually come out fighting to claim the crown in Bristol."

The Lib Dems said they did not want to take control because the interests of the city should be put first and another change in leadership would not be helpful.

Change expected

Lib Dem leader Barbara Janke said the issue should be decided by the electorate in 2009.

She said: "We do not believe the city deserves to have constant change and constantly different people leading the city."

Labour has 25 councillors, the Lib Dems 31, the Tories have 13 and there is one Green representative.

Bristol did not have local elections this year. But the vote at Tuesday afternoon's council meeting could have changed the balance of power.

Control of Bristol City Council had been widely expected to change hands for the fifth time in as many years.