Bristol Mayor George Ferguson appoints three more Cabinet 'ministers'

Bristol Mayor George Ferguson has appointed three more councillors to his cabinet, taking the total to six. Since his election in November he's struggled with only three "ministers" - one each from Conservatives, Lib Dems and the Greens.

Now he's persuaded two more Lib Dems to join plus a second Conservative. And a senior Conservative, Geoff Gollop will act as his deputy, as required by law.

However the cabinet will still NOT include anyone from the second-largest party, Labour, who have so far refused to join.

Mr Ferguson - an independent - had hoped to have a cross-party administration ,but Labour - who've had some internal splits over whether to join - now say they won't reconsider this until after the May elections.

The implication is they don't want to be saddled with unpopular jobs at a time of budget cuts - and who knows, after May they may be in a stronger electoral position to negotiate with the mayor.

The full cabinet now reads (new members first):

• Cllr Barbara Janke (Lib Dem) – covering health and wellbeing

• Cllr Guy Poultney (Lib Dem) – covering housing and planning

• Cllr Alastair Watson (Con) – covering children and young people

• Cllr Simon Cook (Lib Dem) – covering culture, sport and capitalprogrammes

• Cllr Geoff Gollop (Con) – covering finance and corporate services

• Cllr Gus Hoyt (Green) – covering environment, communities andequalities