Conservatives leave Kirklees budget talks after breakdown in trust

Jan 23 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

CONSERVATIVES have walked out of budget talks after a breakdown in trust.

The opposition party had been negotiating with the ruling Labour group about Kirklees Council’s 2010/11 spending and council tax.

But Conservative leader Clr Jim Dodds said yesterday his party had pulled out of the talks, which also involve the Lib Dems and Greens.

The former soldier said: “Having lived and worked for most of my life in a culture where people said what they meant and meant what they said, I have approached my short time in local politics with the same ethos.

“There needs an atmosphere of trust if cross-party talks are to be constructive. We have lost confidence that this trust exists.”

Labour council leader Clr Mehboob Khan responded: “The Tories just want to take their bat and ball home to play their silly games. I ask them to reconsider, to come back to the table and act responsibly for the 30,000 people who voted for them at the last council elections.”

Lib Dem deputy leader Clr John Smithson added: “I think this is a political ploy by the weak leader of a divided group.”

Councillors will decide the spending level and council tax for 2010/11 next month.