WORCESTER’s Conservative group leader Coun Marc Bayliss has launched a bid for his party to take control of the city council.
The Tory chief has called for his party to regain the leadership after last week’s County Council elections which saw the party gain in excess of 4,000 more votes than Labour across Worcester.
But his bold move was rubbished by Labour leader Coun Adrian Gregson who insisted he would be remaining council leader at the Guildhall.
Coun Bayliss said he was delighted the party retained the Bedwardine seat in a by-election which saw Coun Bill Amos elected to the city council with an increased majority.
The result once again ensured the Tories are the largest party on Worcester City Council with 17 seats while Labour has 16 seats and leads the authority with support from the two Green Party councillors.
Coun Bayliss insisted the results showed Worcester voters wanted a Conservative administration at the helm.
“I’m looking forward to the annual meeting on Tuesday (May 16). We have won the popular vote and the largest number of seats.
“I’m looking forward to leading the authority again, obviously in the new committee system it will involve Labour and the Greens as well but clearly the people of Worcester have spoken and the Conservatives are back on top.
“Although it’s a hung council, it’s clear the people of Worcester want a Conservative council, we won the most votes, we won the election,” he added.
In response, Coun Gregson said: “I’m not surprised the Tories are trying to go for the leadership but we have a plan in place for the next five years and I aim to be leading that plan.”
“We know the City Council is very finely balanced politically and that’s a similar message we are getting from the County Council election results.
“One of our jobs as a City Council is to make sure the division that exists doesn’t prevent us moving forward as a city and developing services for local people,” he added.
