May 7, 2011 2.39 pm This story is over 154 months old

Lincoln Tories mobilise against Labour win

Strategy: After losing the City Council to Labour, Lincoln Conservatives are preparing to be in the opposition for a year.
Fighting back: Conservative Councillor Darren Grice at the local elections count on Thursday

Lincoln’s Conservative group have met on Saturday to designate their leadership, following a tight Labour win at the polls on Thursday.

At the local election on May 5 Labour took control of the City of Lincoln Council by one seat, with a total of 17 councillors.

In retaliation, Lincoln’s Conservatives gathered on Saturday to choose their strategy for the coming year in opposition at the City Council.

The Conservative group re-elected Darren Grice and Marc Jones as leader and deputy leader to “hold the new Labour administration to account”.

Grice, who was the leader of the City Council, and Marc Jones, who was the deputy leader at the council, are both Bracebridge ward councillors.

Grice said: “I am delighted to be leading the Conservative Group at this very important time. The challenge to balance the budget and save £2.7 million is now with Labour and we will be pushing to keep front line services untouched, just as we had planned to do.”

Lincoln’s Labour group also met at the City Hall to pick committee members, but have yet to reply to The Lincolnite‘s request for comment.