SNP bids to seize control of Dundee City Council

Published on Tuesday 17 March 2009 21:04

THE Scottish National Party group on Dundee City Council will launch a formal attempt to seize control of the administration within the next two weeks, it was revealed yesterday.

Councillor Ken Guild, the leader, confirmed that the group had officially decided to mount a direct challenge to take over the ruling administration from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, following the SNP's victory in last week's by-election for the Maryfield ward.

Craig Melville's by-election win has left the SNP group with 14 seats on the 29-strong council, one short of an overall majority.

The group is now expected to table a demand for a special meeting of the full council before the spring recess on 4 April. But whether it plans to go it alone, or to take over power as part of a new joint administration, has still to be determined.

The SNP group, which has ruled out an approach to the Lib Dems, has already held talks with Ian Borthwick, the sole independent councillor, and will hold discussions today with the three-strong Conservative group.

Mr Guild said yesterday: "We now have 14 of the 29 councillors and are far and away the largest group. The next largest group now is Labour with nine.

"The electorate gave us a substantial majority in the by-election, and there is obviously an expectation that we should govern the city."