The Liberal Democrat leader of Dudley Council, Cllr Ryan Priest, has defended his party's controversial 'potholes by postcode' strategy, which has drawn sharp criticism from rival political groups.
Deal with Conservatives
The arrangement was struck as part of a budget support deal with the ruling Conservative minority group for the 2025 and 2026 financial years. In return for backing the budget, the Liberal Democrats secured priority road repairs in areas represented by their councillors.
Cllr Priest said: "I welcome the criticism, I actively encourage it. I have been clear the Lib Dem Group first and foremost is made of ward councillors, party comes second, our job is to fight for residents and fix their problems."
Kingmaker Role
The five-strong Liberal Democrat group has positioned itself as a kingmaker on the 72-seat council. With local elections scheduled for May 7, the party is targeting seats in and around Stourbridge and Cradley to expand its influence.
Political observers suggest that Reform UK, The Black Country Party, and the Greens could all gain seats in the fractured political landscape. However, the Conservatives are expected to remain the largest group and may once again require Liberal Democrat support.
Defence of the Deal
Cllr Priest defended the arrangement, pointing to areas like Furlong Lane, which is set for resurfacing, as evidence that residents support the deal. He argued that it was simply about aligning priorities between passing budgets and delivering long-overdue capital projects.
The Liberal Democrat leader concluded: "There was a way for those priorities to align, I don't see a negative in that."
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