COUNCILLORS have expressed their support for senior Hampshire councillors embroiled in a love triangle.

Cllr Anne Winstanley, deputy leader of Eastleigh Borough Council and member of the Eastleigh Liberal Democrat Group, has tonight expressed support for fellow councillors Tonia Craig and Louise Bloom after details of their love triangle involving Cllr Keith House, leader of the authority, unravelled.

Cllr House, 48, is alleged to have struck up a relationship with Cllr Craig, 43, who was promoted to join the borough’s eight-strong Cabinet – alongside Cllr House and his former partner Cllr Bloom.

It is alleged that Cllr Bloom, who has not attended the last five cabinet meetings, is refusing to attend meetings where her love rival is present.

But tonight, in a statement released to the Daily Echo this evening, Cllr Winstanley said on behalf of the Eastleigh Liberal Democrat Group that Cllr Bloom has had serious health problems and is awaiting surgery, while Cllr Craig was the “natural choice” to take over the health portfolio following the retirement of a councillor.

She said: “For Eastleigh Liberal Democrat Group appointment of councillors to, not only Cabinet posts, but also all other positions of special responsibility on Eastleigh Borough Council is not by behest of the council leader but on merit by a democratic process within the Group with a secret ballot.

“There have often been contests for different roles.

“The merits of both Cllr Bloom and Cllr Craig for their cabinet posts can be seen by looking at their past records as councillors. “Cllr Craig has been an elected councillor for 12 years.

“She also serves as the Local Committee Chair for Bursledon, Hamble and Hound area and has been chair of Eastleigh’s Scrutiny Panel.

“She has also been Eastleigh Borough’s representative on Hampshire’s Health Overview Scrutiny Committee.

“She was the natural choice to take over from retiring Cllr Cathie Fraser for the health portfolio.

“Cllr Bloom has been the Cabinet member for Environment and Sustainability for 12 years. She already had credentials in this area before getting elected to Eastleigh Borough.

“During her time as Cabinet member for the Environment Eastleigh Borough has been a national leader in the Environment, including achieving Beacon Council status and winning various awards."

She added Cllr Bloom has had "serious health problems" that has "limited her ability to attend meetings."

She said: "But she has been able to carry out most of her other portfolio responsibilities. There is far more to having a Cabinet portfolio than attending the Cabinet meetings.”