LEADERS of Worcestershire County Council were accused of putting political power before democracy after refusing to change the make-up of the authority's cabinet.
The ruling Tory group did not allow an extra Liberal Democrat take a seat in the decision-making element of the council, even though the political balance of the cabinet changed when Coun Joy Bushby switched from Conservative to Liberal Democrat benches earlier this month.
Instead they yesterday voted to keep the status quo.
"This is about putting political power before democracy and retaining the power of the administration," said Health Concern's Coun Howard Martin.
Pragmatic
But Coun Adrian Hardman said it was the "pragmatic" choice with an election to take place on Thursday, May 5.
The plan to keep the cabinet in the same format was approved by 25 votes to 17 with nine Labour group members abstaining.
n Five of six Tory Worcestershire county councillors representing Bromsgrove have been dumped.
Council leader Coun George Lord, the only existing councillor who will stand again, said it was decided to bring in younger candidates and that "most have accepted it willingly".
The councillors are Peter Fallows, June Longmuir, Pauline Norton, Brian Taylor and Derek Woodward-Sheath.
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