THE Labour and Tory groups are to join forces on a council after the three minority groups refused to join them in a "rainbow coalition".

The leader of the Conservatives, Councillor Ken Lupton, is now leader of Stockton Borough Council after the two majority groups agreed to evenly share the power between them.

Coun Lupton said he was hoping to create a unique cabinet, made up of representatives of all groups, including Liberal Democrats, Thornaby Independence Association (TIA) and Ingleby Barwick Independence Society (Ibis), after the May elections resulted in no majority winner.

He said Labour and the Conservatives had opted to go it alone when the three other groups refused to work with the Labour members.

Coun Lupton said: "I'm very disappointed. I thought it was a unique opportunity for all the parties to participate in an executive to take Stockton forward.

"I can't see why they have that antagonism towards Labour. As far as I'm concerned, I have worked with Labour for a long time and, yes, they have aggressive attitudes sometimes, but that's politics."

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor Maureen Rigg, said that before the elections, her group had stated it would "work constructively with all parties". And she had reaffirmed that message to all group leaders just after the elections.

However, she claimed Labour group leader Councillor Bob Gibson said he had no interest in who the Lib Dems would work with.

"That is not what I interpret as constructive working," she said.

"I would remind Ken Lupton that a rainbow coalition might sound like a lovely idea, but rainbows are ephemeral, and disappear as soon as the weather changes, leaving no trace behind.

"While politicians can work together, those who've lost an election need to realise that they have to change. The people of Stockton didn't vote for more of the same old story."

Councillor David Harrington, of Ibis, said the Labour group had done very little for Ingleby Barwick, and he criticised Coun Lupton for joining with Labour, when only a few months ago he was behind a vote of no confidence in then-leader Coun Gibson.

He said: "The way Labour has been hostile towards us, we don't see how we can continue to work with them in a rainbow coalition.

"We would have been delighted to have worked with the Lib Dems, TIA and Tory groups in a coalition. We have our principles."

Coun Gibson said their refusal to join the cabinet was "absolute madness".

He said: "In refusing to join a rainbow coalition, the other three groups have turned their backs on power and influence - I'm shocked.

"The people of Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick should be asking questions about that.