Reverting to type

Within days of completing his year of office as Swansea’s civic media-tart first citizen, we hear that Sticky Dick Lewis is rapidly returning to his old avaricious ways by threatening to leave the ruling administration unless he is given a senior paid post. Having joined the Lib Dems to secure the mayoral chain, the Gower councillor now plans to publicly dump his former colleagues unless he gets the main chairmanship. We understand that he has also been busy touting the idea of a rainbow arrangement among various political groupings.

Responses could be described as "mixed" but these cynical, self-serving antics are going on against the wider backdrop of other quiet weekend gatherings and late-night phone calls in advance of tomorrow’s reconvened annual meeting.

Expectations are for a repeat of the minor coup a few years back which saw opposition parties grabbing key chairmanships whilst allowing the cabinet to stay in place. The resignation of a single Lib Dem has removed the ruling coalition’s working majority and the act of snatching away paid positions is seen as a way of further damaging council leader Chris Holley without actually replacing him – or taking on the role of managing a series of massive spending cuts.

Holley is either oblivious to the threat or else gives it little credibility. Ever the politician, his priority at present is in seeking renewed reassurances from his independent buddies that they will be not be standing in wards held by Lib Dems next year.

Update: Sources tell us that Lewis can expect "f'all" tomorrow. They add that he has been informed that Lib Dems would be "glad to see the back of him" if he pissed off back to the tories.

Further Update: Opposition groups reported to be going for "everything except cabinet". Expect blood on the chamber carpet.