SWINDON Council is heading for another leadership crisis.

The Conservative and Labour parties are both vying for control of the administration and would need the support of the Liberal Democrats in order to take over.

But the Liberal Democrats insist they will not allow either party back in charge, preferring the idea of a balanced cabinet instead.

The three groups are becoming increasingly entrenched in their stance as the crucial annual meeting on Friday approaches, when a decision must be made.

They are deep in discussions with each other in attempts to thrash out a compromise, but no solution appears to be emerging.

Current council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) whose group took control from Labour in October after the education department's damning Ofsted report initially seemed resigned to standing aside after failing to make gains in the local elections on May 2.

But he defiantly announced today: "We will not be rolling over for anyone."

He added: "We think we have done a reasonable job over the last seven months and if the others want to vote us out of office that's up to them.

"Conversations are going on that may well result in a deal, but we don't believe Labour has a mandate to run the council.

"It is an entrenched position, but by Friday we have to have an administration of some sort in place. I don't know what is going to happen."

Labour leader Sue Bates (Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) appeared equally uncertain as to how the quandary might be resolved.

She said: "Coun Bawden and I both feel something needs to be sorted out before Friday's meeting if at all possible, because that's supposed to be a civic occasion and we don't want to spoil it with political bickering.

"I don't think any party has a mandate from the elections, but we certainly weren't given a bloody nose as everyone predicted and we are still the largest party on the council.

"I'm not making assumptions that the administration is ours on that basis, because it is a very fragile situation.

"Probably the only option to allow sense to prevail is for individual members from one group to abstain from the vote, but I can't see my side giving way."

Liberal Democrat leader Mike Evemy (Eastcott), who insisted after the elections that his group would side with no-one, now seems more open to a deal being secured.

"We all have a position and those positions clearly conflict, but there is still time to agree on something," he said.

"We have had a hung council for two years and agreements have been made between parties in that time.

"If nobody moves then we won't have an administration on Friday, but it is our responsibility as councillors to agree on something. I can't predict what's going to happen."