TALKS continue between the parties to fill the power vacuum left by the defeat of Bolton Council’s ruling Labour group.

They are now seeking to cling to power and are in talks with the smaller parties.

The Conservatives are holding their own discussions to construct an anti-Labour coalition.

The hyper-local parties which gained four more seats, the Lib Dems who scooped three wards and UKIP who defended theirs have set out their demands for the big two parties.

Lib Dem leader, Cllr Roger Hayes, said his party had held informal talks with “most of the other parties over the last few days”.

He said: “We are trying to get something for the people of Bolton, and something which expresses what they told us during this election.”

Cllr Hayes said his party had numerous objectives and conditions for anyone they would be willing to enter an agreement with.

He said: “We want to get the roads sorted out and we want to seriously look at councillors and their perks ­— which we think is too much ­— and we are also looking at the environment and green belt.”

UKIP’s Cllr Sean Hornby confirmed his party is in talks with both the Labour and Conservative leadership but stressed UKIP will not rush any decision, saying “it’s something we have consider very seriously”.

Cllr Hornby said his party will be making several demands ­— including a review of the distribution of deprivation grants and measures to increase council transparency.

He added that he did not believe entering a coalition with other parties would betray UKIP’s principles or voters.

“I would be insisting that some of our core policies that we fought this election on will be included in whatever happens,” he said.

Cllr Paul Sanders of Farnworth and Kearsley First said the party had entered similar “informal” discussions with the three largest parties and would also be speaking with UKIP.

But he added: “As a group we have not really come up with any definitive list of what we want to put to the parties or what changes we would want them to take on. But we will be bringing this out in the fullness of time.”

He ruled out entering a coalition: “We are not going to prop up the Labour or Tory parties.”

Labour saw its delicate majority secured in 2018 decimated last week and now hold 23 seats out of a possible 60.

Labour councillor Nick Peel said talks had taken place between his party and the smaller parties, and said he believed progress was being made.

He added: “We are basically discussing where we have common ground and I think that is the important thing. I do not think any of the smaller parties are interested in a formal coalition. But it is about where we have shared values that can benefit the people of Bolton.”

“Keeping the Tories out of power” is now Cllr Peel’s party’s priority.

He said: “I think it would be irresponsible to the majority of voters who have voted Labour to simply walk away without making an effort. I think we owe it to these people to try and make things work by working in collaboration.”

Cllr Peel vowed: “Labour will be back electorally in Bolton, that’s a definite”.

The Conservatives remain the second largest party after taking two seats but losing one.

But if a deal can be struck, they could end up running Bolton Council for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh said his party had “nothing definitive” to report, however a number of meetings are planned and several options could be possible ­— from a formal coalition to a supply and demand agreement.

He said: “Never before has there been such an opportunity for the good of the town for there to be some sort of coalition of opposition parties.”

Horwich and Blackrod First Independents were unavailable for comment.