8:55am Friday 28th July 2006
Labour last night became the largest group on Oxford City Council after winning the Hinksey Park by-election - sparking a battle for control of the Town Hall.
After Oscar van Nooijen's win, attention now turns again to who runs the authority, two months after the Lib Dems took over following May's election.
By convention the largest group in a hung council, like Oxford, forms the administration, but despite the Liberal Democrats suffering another hammer blow, they still remain in control.
Since Labour lost overall control, the Liberal Democrats have seen two councillors defect to other parties (Saj Malik to Labour and Paul Sargent becoming an independent), thus reducing their slender majority.
There is now talk of there possibly being a joint Labour/Green administration or even a so-called rainbow coalition of the three main parties.
What is certain is that frantic negotiations will continue behind the scenes until the next full council meeting, scheduled for October.
After the May elections, Labour group leader Bob Price said his party was happy to stay in opposition, but last night he said he "would rule nothing out".
As it now stands the 48-member city council is made up of: * Labour - 18 councillors * Liberal Democrat - 17 councillors * Green - 8 councillors * Independent Working Class Association - 4 councillors * Independent - 1 councillor Last night, Mr van Nooijen won the seat, which was previously held by his Labour colleague Rick Muir, with 676 votes. He was 240 votes clear of second-place Green candidate Lilian Sherwood, who scooped 436.
Lib Dem Nathan Pyle polled 217 while Tory A-lister Carolyn Ten Holter could only manage fourth with just 155 votes.
Turnout was 33.5 per cent.
Lib Dem David Rundle, deputy leader of the city council, said: "This is a very unusual situation.
"We have to remember that just a couple of months ago we got the highest percentage across the city - and Labour made it very clear they felt they should go into opposition.
"But let's hope all parties can act constructively."
The real upshot of last night's by-election is that Labour could find itself in a commanding position ahead of the annual budget-making process, which takes place early in the new year.
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