It has been just over a week since Rene Kinzett took over the leadership of the Council's Conservative Group and already he is finding that political leadership is not as easy as he thought.Two fifths of his group have deserted him and, even though he may pick up an independent in return for a suitable incentive, he has still been left leading a rump and sharing an office with Ray Welsby.
Of course this still leaves him in a reasonably strong position if only because of the way that the group numbers stack up. What he is going to do with this influence has yet to be seen.
His attempt to separate himself and his group from Administration policies on e-government, the Leisure Centre and the Bendy Bus is a gamble that may yet rebound on him. For the last three years he has been closely associated with all of these policies. When they start to come good just in time for the elections then he may well find himself out on a limb. Equally, if any of them should suffer a setback he will have great difficulty convincing anybody that he was not complicit in formulating and implementing the policy.
What is most interesting however is Rene's choice of allies. He has recently been seen around County Hall deep in discussion with Labour Group Leader, David Phillips. Whereas, even we would not suggest that he is about to form a Lab-Con Administration, it is certainly possible that his group will join with Labour to claim all the scrutiny chairs.
We are sure that the Tory blue rinse brigade, who account for the party's grassroots these days, will not be amused at this unlikely partnership. It may prove awkward too for Tory AM, Alun Cairns and his running mates in the Assembly elections. He will have some fun explaining to local voters how his party can advocate a rainbow coalition in Cardiff Bay, whilst at the same time stabbing the same potential partners in the back in Swansea and teaming up with New Labour instead.
We really do live in interesting times.
