A LEADING Teesside Tory has called on politicians to join an all-party coalition to run Stockton Borough Council.

Labour's national executive is to discuss a decision made by the Stockton Labour group to form a joint administration with the Conservatives.

The Ingleby Barwick Independent Society, Thornaby Independent Association and the Liberal Democrats refuse to join Labour.

And, as exclusively revealed in The Northern Echo yesterday, a national Labour Party official has warned Labour councillors against the move.

Conservative Ken Lupton, the council's new leader, said: "My original proposal was for a joint executive with all political groups in the council invited to play a part, based on proportional representation.

"However, for various reasons, some minority groups felt this was not possible.

"In the light of this, the most democratic way forward has been to form a joint administration of the two largest groups on the council, Labour and Conservative.

"There was an understanding that the previous leaders would stand down and this will give a fresh feel to the administration.

"This does not close the door to the other parties and I would be pleased to sit down with them at some stage in the future."

A Labour Party official met councillors prior to this week's annual council meeting advising them against forging such a deal.

A national Labour Party spokesman later accused Labour councillors of giving away the leadership of the council "to a minority party". This, he said "allows the tail to wag the dog".

A spokesman for Conservative regional office said last night: "The party has the view that local Conservatives can negotiate what they think is right for their local community. That is all about emancipating local government.

"Local Conservatives have no bother with this. You have to work with people and really it is a shame Labour Party don't think the same."

Talk of coalitions arose after Labour lost control of the council in the recent local government elections.