Councillor Andrew Mortimer, the Conservative group leader at Watford Borough Council, has backed the new coalition government to get Britain out of its “unholy financial mess”.

He also welcomed Richard Harrington's election victory in Watford in the face of claims from the Liberal Democrats that the Tories couldn't win in the town after coming third in 2005.

Councillor Mortimer said: “I'm absolutely delighted with Richard's appointment. It shows either the electorate of Watford cannot read or ignored what the Liberal Democrats think because the Tories can win in Watford.”

Asked about the coalition government formed between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, he said: “To some degree there's a sigh of relief that something has emerged from it that isn't a dog's breakfast. Let us hope the best attributes of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats can form a government that can get us out of the unholy financial mess we're in and address the serious problems we face of social breakdown, immigration, unemployment and Europe.”

Councillor Mortimer also said minority parties represented in Watford Borough Council should do more to provide a stronger opposition against the majority Liberal Democrats.

The council currently consists of 26 Liberal Democrats, including Mayor Dorothy Thornhill, four Conservatives, four Labour Party members and three Green Party members.

He said: “We need to form a stronger opposition. If its necessary, perhaps aligning ourselves more than we have in the past may not be a bad thing.”

This was welcomed by Labour councillor Nigel Bell.

"I would agree with us working together," he said.

"Anything we can do to work together would be welcomed. There are lots of big projects coming up. There are things going on and we need to scrutinise."