I refer to the article "LibDems fume over key posts 'carve-up'" in the Bolton Evening News on May 22.

I have to say from the outset that there as been no deal, agreement or 'carve up' done between Conservatives and Labour.

What has actually happened is the two main political parties have co-operated so that an administration could be formed to allow Bolton Council to move forward and be effective for the benefit of its residents.

What amazes me is that the Liberal Democrats were in discussions with the Labour party to form a near exact administration as now formed between the Tories and Labour.

The facts are that the Labour Group has taken all the executive positions and are running the council, as the major party. The Conservatives, the major opposition group, have now taken the posts of the Scrutiny Chairman to scrutinise and question more effectively those decisions made by the Labour Executive, the role of the major opposition group.

This is what should have always happened but the Labour Group, prior to losing overall control of the council, took it on themselves and saw fit to not only make the decisions but also scrutinise those very decisions, which was nonsense, a fact with which the LibDems agree. For Cllrs Wilkinson and Hayes of the Lib Dems, the minor opposition party, to bleat on about a 'carve-up' is absolutely rubbish.

A 'carve-up' would suggest that there has been some agreement or coalition formed for further co-operation, which could not be further from the truth.

The Labour and Tory Groups will still continue to act completely independently of each other and will continue to agree to disagree on many subjects as was previously the case, including, I am sure, the next budget!

The truth is the Liberal Democrats got greedy. During their negotiations with the Labour Group they insisted that committees and panels were increased in size to allow them to have more seats.

This would have falsely increased their representation on these groups and effectively 'wiped out' the five extra seats the Conservatives currently hold over them. And all this without the use of a ballot box. If that is not un-democratic and trying to do a deal, then I don't know what is.

A very good analogy was used in the Council Chamber on Wednesday night (Cllr John Walsh). The LibDems are playing in the Nationwide League; Labour and the Conservatives, the two major parties, are playing in the Premiership and it is this fact which really bothers the LibDems.

I can assure the electorate and our supporters that there has been no deal done and the Conservative group will not falter nor compromise its values and beliefs, unlike the Liberal Democrats, who seem to change theirs by the day to suit whoever they are talking to at the time.

Andy Morgan

Conservative Group Whip

Councillor Hulton Park Ward1