Oxfordshire Greens want 'rainbow coalition' to stop cuts

The Green Party wants to create a "rainbow coalition" to reverse budget cuts at Oxfordshire County Council.

Thursday's election left the Conservatives with 31 councillors - one short of a majority.

Green councillor David Williams wants to change elements of the 2013-14 budget, which was approved in February.

The deal would need support from all 32 Liberal Democrat, Labour, independent and Green members, which Mr Williams said was unlikely.

'Agreement possible'

Mr Williams said his party had written to all opposition groups to suggest a "pact" to vote through budget alterations.

Labour - the largest opposition group - does not support the plan, but Mr Williams said he was hopeful an agreement could be reached.

The Greens and Tories differ on both the scale and motive of the cuts - which the Greens have called "malicious" but the Tories say are "balanced".

In February the council said it was planning to save £73m from 2013 to 2017.

After Thursday's elections Conservative leader Ian Hudspeth said there would be "phone calls over the course of the weekend" to discuss coalition possibilities, but nothing has been announced yet.