POWER changed hands at the top of Kirklees Council last night after a knife-edge vote.

Labour, Lib Dem, Green and independent councillors combined to vote the Conservative Cabinet out by 46 votes to 23 – exactly the two-thirds majority needed to bring down an administration.

The ruling Conservatives were toppled over their controversial schools plan for north Kirklees, which included closing Castle Hall in Mirfield.

A new coalition Cabinet of Labour and Lib Dem councillors was immediately elected at last night’s monthly council meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall.

But outgoing Tory council leader Clr Robert Light labelled the new administration “an alliance of evil.”

Greenhead Labour councillor Mehboob Khan was elected council leader, becoming the first Asian person to hold the post.

Clr Khan pledged to improve schools across Kirklees. He said: “We will do better than the Tories to tackle the pockets of deep educational disadvantage, do better in making average schools good and good schools excellent.”

The no-confidence vote came after councillors debated the £200m reorganisation of schools in north Kirklees.

In September the Conservatives unveiled a plan which involved closing 11 schools, including Castle Hall in Mirfield. Opposition councillors were also angry at plans to shut the sixth form at St John Fisher Catholic High School in Dewsbury and to build a new middle school in Birkenshaw, which is in Clr Light’s ward.

Following a concerted protest from pupils, parents and teachers, the Tories announced new plans on Tuesday and promised to hold a parents’ referendum on the issue.

Lib Dem leader Clr Kath Pinnock told the Conservatives: “The petty politics that we have seen from you has threatened this, meaning we might lose the £200m altogether. You are not fit to lead this council.”

Clr Khan said: “Unless the Tories are removed from power we will lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for investment. We have tried to reach an agreement with the Tories but there was no meeting of minds. We have a choice – defeat them or be defeated by them.”

Clr Light struck a defiant tone after the vote that toppled his administration which came to power in 2006.

He vowed to oppose the new Labour and Lib Dem coalition.

He said: “This is an interesting alliance of evil and we wish you well – you deserve each other. This day is one that you will regret.”