Setting a Budget and Liberals all over the place

Last night Haringey Councillors set the Council Budget for 2007-08.

We agreed by 30 votes to 24 to increase the council tax by 3.5%. It was interesting that despite the Liberal opposition saying at the last meeting what they would like to do with the budget, when the crunch came they just could not put forward an alternative budget to the vote.

The Lib Dems have been the largest opposition in Haringey since 1998, but just can't get it right. I pointed out that the only Liberal to actually move an alternative budget at full council was Alex L' Estrange for the old Coleraine ward in the late 1980s.

At least when the Tories were on the council and even when down to two members they put up an alternative budget, if they can, why can't the Lib Dems? Dear oh dear.

And then, to show how much the Libs seem to be all over the place, they put forward a motion on businesses in Haringey and when it came to voting on the Labour amendment, they abstained. Yep, didn't even try and save their own motion. Some Lib Dem councillors were putting up their hands to vote against and were told not to, and then some didn't even want to vote.

What a shambles of an opposition.

Still, had a nice curry afterwards with some of fellow Labour councillors but got a tad wet going home because of the rain.