Scottish council elections: Tories back Fife Labour minority

Labour councillors have formed a minority administration on Fife Council after securing the support of Conservative and independent councillors.

The party was four seats short of an outright majority at the local authority elections when 11 new councillors were elected, taking Labour’s total to 35.

Members of the Conservatives and independent groups will back the Labour administration’s manifesto pledges but will not formally be part of a coalition.

The pact between Labour and the Tories follows a set of deals involving the two parties on councils across Scotland, including Aberdeen, Stirling and East Dunbartonshire in a series of moves aimed at keeping the SNP out of power.

Fife Labour group secretary David Ross said the pact with Tory councillors would provide “stable” government for the area.

He said: “There are clearly significant differences between Labour and the Conservatives... but in Fife Council, they share our view that decision making within the council should be more transparent and inclusive, that more power should be devolved to local level.”