Swindon Conservatives refute Labour claims of deal with Reform UK

Controversy erupted following Friday's Annual Council Meeting, which included the election of new Mayor of Swindon Cllr Neil Hopkins, new Conservative council leader Cllr Gary Sumner and his Cabinet, after Reform Councillors frequently voted with the Conservatives, whose 23 seats give the party a minority leadership position at the Civic Offices.
A number of Labour Group councillors claimed not only that a deal had taken place between the Conservatives and Reform, but that Cllr Sumner had gone back on a previous pledge that no such deal would take place.
However, this has been strongly refuted in a statement by Deputy Council Leader Cllr Jake Chandler.
He said: "The Council's AGM (Mayor Making Ceremony) is generally an apolitical affair. Mayoral choices are a formality based on prior agreements between parties, followed committee appointments, which are usually taken on bloc. 
"The appointment of Leader by Council has also been conventionally agreed cross-party to ensure stability in changing administrations, for this reason I and other Conservatives have always voted for Cllr Jim Robbins to be Leader of SBC while Labour were the largest party. 
"To not do this tacitly denies the reality of who the largest party is on SBC. While Swindon Borough Council is in no overall control, I had hoped for cross-party working on Friday, however some of the more cynical tactics on the part of the outgoing Labour administration were anticipated ahead of time.
"Conservative, Labour and Reform Councillors had committee chairs/positions allocated based on the principle of proportionality. This was determined to be the fairest approach to a no overall control position by Cllr Gary Sumner and I.
"Senior Labour Councillors privately expressed their embarrassment over how the situation on Friday unfolded.
"To be completely clear: "
Labour's repeated claims of a deal being struck by Conservatives and Reform are 100% false.
"Labour broke with longstanding convention by opposing appointments needed to for a Council Cabinet to be formed.
"Labour so far as we are aware are the only party to propose a 'deal'. Cllr Gary Sumner and myself met with the Labour Leader and Deputy and were given a list of Labour's demands for supporting a Conservative minority administration; a full coalition by written agreement, a majority of committee chair positions, a commitment not to change Labour's policies in Swindon, and ruling out any changes to scrutiny arrangements on the Council. 
"These demands clearly would be unacceptable to any incoming administration.
"It was made clear at this meeting with Labour that as Conservatives we would be involving all parties in scrutiny at the Council and that we intended to speak to Reform. We understand Labour also made contact with Reform last week, making their position all the more hypocritical.
"The only party that wanted to exclude another party was LABOUR - trying to deny Reform (who have 14 Councillors) any positions.
"For the record, I have no objection to Labour positioning themselves in opposition however they want, but there is no excuse for blatantly lying to residents. As a minority administration we will be trying to work constructively with all parties (including Labour).
"Friday's display and Labour's approach since entering opposition, suggest they have completely overplayed their hand in negotiations, which from our perspective was suboptimal for setting off on the right foot working collaboratively."
 

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