A BID to form a 'government of all the talents' with a cross-party rainbow alliance on Purbeck council has now been rejected by the district's Liberal Democrat group.

Purbeck council went into the May elections with the Tories in control - as they had been for nine years.

With two Conservative losses - including the council's chairman veteran councillor Roy Anderson in Wareham - both they and the Liberal Democrats have party groups of 11 councillors each.

There are two independent councillors whose role in deciding who gets what role in the council chamber could be crucial.

The independents had approached both party groupings with a view to forming a rainbow alliance.

The aim was to select councillors from across the party spectrum to fill important roles on the council.

But now the Liberal Democrat group has announced it has decided to flatly reject the offer and make its own bid to secure the top jobs.

Party group leader Coun David Budd has claimed: "Such a cross-party coalition was likely to lack strong united leadership and direction, it would be inherently unstable and unlikely to last."

Now the Lib Dems have pledged to put up their nominations for all the main positions on the council.

Those decisions are due to be made at a council meeting tonight.