SPECULATION about plans to form a rainbow coalition of opposition parties in Southend after the next local elections has been knocked back by councillors.

There are currently 27 Tory councillors and 24 opposition members, split between Labour, the Independents and the Liberal Democrats.

If the minority parties gained three seats between them in the May 6 election, they could theoretically form a coalition and oust the Conservatives.

After Southend Council’s budget for the coming year was unveiled on Monday, the opposition party leaders released a joint statement, leading some to speculate if such a coalition could be on the cards.

The statement was released by Lib Dem leader Graham Longley in partnership with the leaders of the Labour and Independent parties, but he denied they were joining forces.

He said: “There is no reason behind this collaboration at all, apart from that we were called in this morning to be presented with the budget as the three opposition leaders, and when we finished hearing about it we said we would put out our thoughts together.”

Independent party leader Martin Terry said no deal had been made, but added he would be open to the coalition working should his party end up holding the balance of power.

He said: “We’re not going to do any deals with any political parties because that would be a betrayal of those who vote Independent.”

Labour party leader David Norman was more open to the idea. He said: “I am already on record as saying the council faces a challenging few years ahead with the outlook for public expenditure, that I believe the town’s best interests would be served by drawing on the talents of the opposition groups.

“Obviously we can’t speculate about the outcome of elections, but I have said my position is that I would want to work with people of goodwill and talent of all parties, in the best interests of the town.”

However, he added his party would be fighting with a distinctly Labour message and would only take stock once the results were in.

The idea of a deal between the opposition parties did not seem to faze Conservative council leader, Nigel Holdcroft.

He said: “I am not in the slightest bothered.

“The chances of those three groups working constructively together, I would feel, are most unlikely, given they have no common ideology or approach to a vast range of issues.

“I am somewhat astounded they have managed to cobble anything together in agreement.”