Labour look to reclaim Wolverhampton Council

Labour today moved to seize back control of Wolverhampton City Council from the Tory-Lib Dem coalition.

The party led by Councillor Roger Lawrence has tabled a motion of no confidence in the coalition for the next meeting of the authority on December 15.

The coalition has refused calls to resign after Labour won two crucial by-elections in Bilston and Wednesfield.

Lib Dem Claire Darke then withdrew her support for the coalition, giving Labour one more member than the administration.

Councillor Lawrence declared today: "We have called on the Tory-Lib Dem group to resign but since they have not, we will now seek to vote them out."

Coalition leader Neville Patten remained defiant, saying: "We will not resign.

"If they want power they will have to take it from us."

If Councillor Darke votes for Labour or abstains then Labour can take control, as long as all of its 30 councillors are present.

The Conservatives have 25 councillors compared to five Lib Dems.