Red flag is lowered at town hall

Lambeth council, scene of some of the most notorious episodes in modern-day Labour party politics, is set to lose its red flag today for the first time in more than three decades.

The borough shed its Labour majority in last Thursday's polls, leaving Labour level with the Liberal Democrats on 28 seats each. After behind-the-scenes negotiations the Liberal Democrats rejected council leader Tom Franklin's offer of a powersharing arrangement in favour of a pact with the small Conservative group.

It is the first time Labour has faced a term in opposition on the council for 31 years, a period that saw it preside over spectacular controversy during the "loony Left" years of the Eighties. Voters are thought to have punished Mr Franklin's regime over its record on tackling graffiti, youth crime and processing housing benefit.

Local Tory leader John Whelan said: "Labour has had 31 years running Lambeth, now it is somebody else's turn."