SNP offers coalition deal to Labour

THE SNP group in West Lothian has offered to support a minority Labour administration following last week’s council elections.

Councillor Peter Johnston, the former leader of the council, said he understood that Labour were looking to do a deal with the Conservatives. He believed they would be proposing Councillor Tom Kerr, who won the Linlithgow seat, as Provost and, with his support, form a Labour/Conservative council administration.

Cllr Johnston, leader of the SNP group, said: “As Labour has 16 council seats to our 15 they are clearly in a position to form an administration.

“Indeed, Cllr Kerr has confirmed he will be supporting Labour. However, I am minded to offer SNP support for a minority Labour administration.

“In return I would be looking for policy commitments to continue key SNP policies, including freezing the council tax.”