The Labour Party in Brighton and Hove has signalled that it will not be forming a coalition with the triumphant Greens.
Gill Mitchell, leader of the Labour group on Brighton and Hove City Council, offered qualified support.
She said: “With the Greens having 23 seats they are clearly able to form a minority administration to run the council.
“Labour successfully ran the council with the same number of seats between 2003 and 2007 and the Conservatives governed with 26 seats for the past four years.
“So it is right that the Greens, as clear winners, are given the opportunity to implement their manifesto in the same way.
“We will support the Greens where they bring forward sensible proposals in the best interests of the city as well as being an effective and challenging opposition when we think they are getting things wrong.
“We will now take stock and work to build up the trust and support of local people in this city as well as continuing to campaign to make it a better and fairer place to live.”
When the final declarations had been made at Hove Town Hall on Friday (6 May), Councillor Mitchell made a pointed remark about how the results might have looked using the “alternative vote” system.
Her party polled 32 per cent of the votes cast on Thursday (5 May) and ended up with 13 seats – or 24 percent of the seats.
The Greens polled 33 per cent and won 23 seats – or 43 per cent of the seats.
The Conservatives polled 29 per cent of the vote and won 18 seats – or 33 per cent of the seats.
It would appear that Gill Mitchell doesn’t understand how AV works if she thinks it would have delivered a more representative vote.
My impression talking to Green councillors after the count was that they were keen to form a minority administration in their own right – and so they should so that the public can get a clear sense of their identity and capacities.
Look out for some surprise appointments by the Greens!