TORIES in Hart will run a minority administration after negotiations between the three main parties broke down.

The Conservatives lost three seats in the local elections earlier this month which meant they lost overall control of the council.

They now have 16 seats while the Liberal Democrats have 10, Community Campaign Hart (CCH) have seven and there are two Independents.

Councillor Stephen Parker, Tory deputy leader of the district council, told The Gazette that he and current leader Cllr Ken Crookes met with Cllr David Neighbour, Liberal Democrat group leader, at Cllr Crookes’ house.

But negotiations failed when Cllr Neighbour asked for the Liberal Democrats to choose which of their members could go on the Cabinet.

Cllr Parker said: “We then spoke to CCH. They said would only join the Cabinet if the Liberal Democrats could be included.

“I’m disappointed. I was hoping we could co-operate and do something over the next couple of years. It’s clear that the electorate did not wish any group to hold sway and that we wanted to co-operate. Sadly, our colleagues did not want to do that.”

Cllr James Radley, CCH group leader, said that “certain members” of the Conservatives did not want to work in a coalition Cabinet.

He said: “People are sick of politics in this country and the thought that any one political party should feel that they can exclude other parties is not in keeping with the mood of the country.”

Two councillors from The Gazette area have joined the new Cabinet.

Cllr Brian Burchfield, who represents the Hook ward, takes the newly-created portfolio of Corporate Services, while Cllr John Kennett, from Long Sutton, is the new portfolio holder for community safety, after Cllr Nippy Singh failed to retain his seat in Crondall.