Manchester Climate Monthly has learnt that the Manchester Labour Party is planning to “gift” three council seats to the Greens at the next Council elections, to be held on Thursday May 3rd.

Speaking exclusively to Manchester Climate Monthly, Nigel Murphy, Executive Member for the Environment, explained the decision. “Many people – rightly – describe Manchester as a one party state. That’s only going to get worse once the Liberal Democrats – rightly – get toasted in 6 weeks time. They’ll go from “Twenty’s Plenty” to a “dirty dozen” or so. So, to maintain a veneer of democratic accountability and ideological diversity, we thought we’d give the Greens a free run at about 3 percent of the total seats available.”

The mechanics of the scheme are still shrouded in secrecy. Labour will stand candidates, but they will produce poorly-worded and unconvincing leaflets. On the doorstep they will mostly talk about how awful the Conservaties are, rather than try to defend Manchester Labour’s record. It is hoped that these measures will help Green candidates – who are noted for their coherence, discipline and personability – to achieve the electoral success that has, with one brief exception, eluded them to date.

“Look,” said Councillor Murphy over a third pint. “There’s 96 seats on the Council. We own – own I tell you – most of them. Even with that guy in Moston going, we still rule this city with an iron fist. And frankly, if you look at how we’ve done over the last few years on climate issues, we could do with either a little help, or someone to blame.”

Asked to expand on this theme over a fifth pint, Councillor Murphy continued “Well, when you take the secrecy of the Environmental Strategy Programme Board, the infrequency of the Environmental Advisory Panel and the bewilderment of the “Steering” Group, there’s not much left. We hope that the Greens will bring sensible policy ideas that we can poach. And if they don’t, they’ll make good scapegoats.”

Over a seventh pint, MCFly asked if the scheme, of dubious legality, had been popular. Councillor Murphy warmed to his theme at this point. “Sure, there was some resistance to this idea. Richard Leese and Pat Karney dug in their heels, and word reached us that Sir Howard Bernstein wasn’t happy. But at the end of the day, Manchester Labour Party is democratic. The people at the top don’t always get things their own way, you know.”

The Green Party could not be reached for comment.