Scottish council elections: SNP will lead two more coalitions

THE SNP is to lead the administrations of Highland Council as well as Argyll and Bute after striking deals with political rivals last night.

And the Nationalists could be on the verge of forming another surprise coalition with Labour to seize control in Dumfries and Galloway.

The deal in the Highlands was ironed out after the independents, the biggest grouping with 36 seats on the 80-member council, failed to reach agreement with other parties.

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It is the first time the independents have not led the administration in the Highlands and the development prompted an angry response from group leader Carolyn Wilson.

“The voice of the electorate has been bypassed by party politics,” she said. “People told us on the doorsteps during the election that they didn’t want party politics at local government level – they just wanted to get things done.”

The new 44-strong coalition will comprise 22 Nationalists, 15 Scottish Liberal Democrats and eight councillors from Labour.

SNP group leader Drew Hendry said: “With this strong coalition I have no doubts the three groups can work well together –setting aside political differences – to deliver for the Highlands.”

The Nationalists will also lead the coalition in Argyll and Bute, which has been thrashed out with the Argyll First alliance of local campaigners and independents.

It replaces the coalition of independents, Tories and Lib Dems which had been in control before the election. Argyll First Group leader Dougie Philand said the council’s all-powerful executive committee, which freezes many councillors out of the decision-making process, is set to go.

He said: “This committee could be making global decisions about home helps which affect my back yard, but I had no input to that.

“I couldn’t put a motion, I couldn’t discuss it. “

“We want to increase the level of democracy and make sure that all councillors have an equal say. We haven’t worked out the new system yet, but we want to see decisions which are made by the full council.”

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Labour had a surprise victory in Dumfries and Galloway emerging with 15 seats, one ahead of the Conservatives in the traditional Tory heartland in Scotland. Labour group leader Ronnie Nicholson yesterday said talks were under way with the Nationalists and a deal could be reached.

“We’ve had constructive talks on policy grounds with a view to getting our policy manifesto implemented,” he said.

“It’s looking quite positive that we might that deal done.”

The Tories ruled in coalition with the Liberal Democrats before the election.

Elsewhere, talks have been ongoing in Aberdeen after Labour emerged as the biggest party after last week’s election.

A deal with the Tories and independents could be the most likely coalition, but Labour group leader Barney Crockett says that he expects a deal to be finalised today.

A deal is also expected in Perth where the SNP is the biggest party and has been holding coalition talks with other parties in recent days.

Labour also hopes to announce a deal later today in Falkirk which will see the party retain control in the area, after constructive talks were held with the Tories and independent Billy Buchanan.