A BITTER power struggle at the heart of Swindon Council’s ruling Conservative group could come to a head with a challenge to Rod Bluh’s leadership.

The Adver understands that Coun Bluh, who has led the council since 2006, could be challenged at the group’s annual general meeting on Tuesday May 5 by one of his own cabinet members – Coun Nick Martin.

Coun Martin has denied he is gunning for the leader but has raised concerns over the health of Coun Bluh, who is suffering from Labyrinthitis – a severe infection of the inner ear.

Coun Bluh has reportedly already survived one attempted coup at the beginning of the year but is now steeling himself for another fight.

But Coun Martin, who was moved from his position as lead member for resources in a December reshuffle, could aim his sights at deputy leader Coun Fionuala Foley instead.

Coun Foley said: “There are two rumours – one is that Nick Martin is going for Rod Bluh’s position and the other is that he is going for my job.

“I think he might go for my job because he wouldn’t be able to beat Rod.

“I accept a challenge and I fully respect democracy. I’m more than happy to stand by my record and my partnership with Rod. That partnership is respected across the council.

“It is up to the 43 members of the group to decide and if people think a change is needed then that is their right.

“I think I am a good ambassador for the town and that I work well with Rod. He has a great reputation both in the region and with the party leadership, and I certainly think he is the man to lead Swindon.

“I’m sure Nick Martin has his own strengths. I stand and fall by Rod - so if he is defeated in a leadership contest I will go with him.”

Coun Martin said: “I can categorically say that I have never wanted Fionuala’s position and won’t consider putting in for it.”

But on the subject of Coun Bluh’s position Coun Martin was less clear.

He said: “If his health continues to undermine him then it might lead to a change of leadership. He has been fairly poorly fairly frequently and it may be that the job isn’t helping that.

“Any rumours about a leadership challenge have not been started by me. They have probably been generated by issues between the leader and other members of the administration who have then used them as a stick to beat me.

“I think the people spreading these rumours are being very mischevious.

“If Rod decided to step back I would put my hat in the ring.”

Coun Martin refused to be drawn on his personal views of the leadership.

He said: “The Conservative group is reasonably relaxed with Rod’s leadership at the moment.

“If they weren’t then there would be a leadership challenge, but I don’t expect to see one in May. People were trying to drive a challenge after Christmas.”

Coun Bluh said: “If anybody wishes to challenge for my job they are entitled to put themselves forward.

“Until a challenge is forthcoming I don’t think it would be sensible to speculate. If a challenge comes then I will be more than happy to put myself forward on my record to date as leader. A lot has been achieved but more still to be done. It is important to keep the momentum going. I would also give my fulsome support to my deputy leader who has been a great support. We make a good team and I think between us we have delivered a stable and forward moving administration over the last three years.”

On Coun Martin’s comments about his health Coun Bluh said he was perfectly capable of carrying out his job.

He said: “I would be the first to accept that I haven’t had a very good year health wise but it has all been relatively minor.

“I think it is unfortunate that Coun Martin wishes to try to undermine my leadership using spurious assumptions.

“I have been fully able to carry out my job throughout the year.

Coun Foley also defended her leader’s ability to do his job, saying: “Rod has Labyrinthitis at the moment and anyone who had it knows it’s a horrific illness.

“But even when he was in hospital and hardly able to speak he called for me to talk about council business.

“I have never known Rod not be contactable and one of the strengths of our partnership is that if one of us is ill we know we can rely on the other to fill in.”