Trump council on knife-edge after trio resign

THE Liberal Democrat group on Aberdeenshire Council yesterday vowed to cling on to power in a pact with the Conservatives, despite the resignation of three high-profile councillors.

The ruling Lib Dem and Conservative administration has been left depending on the casting vote of the provost, Bill Howatson, following the decision of three members to quit the group in the row over Donald Trump's plans for a 1 billion golf resort at the Menie estate.

The three councillors, Paul Johnston, Sam Coull and Martin Ford, resigned from the Liberal Democrat group on Friday, joining Debra Storr, who had already quit the party group in November last year.

Their resignations have left the balance of power in the council on a knife-edge, with both the administration and the opposition groups having 34 councillors.

The administration comprises 20 Liberal Democrats and 14 Conservatives, while there are now 13 Independent councillors, including the four Lib Dem rebels, and 21 SNP members.

Councillor Ford was previously sacked as convener of the infrastructure committee after using his casting vote to oppose the Trump plans.

He and councillors Johnston and Coull quit the Lib Dem group after the council refused to record the fact that Mr Johnston had been cleared by the Standards Commission. That episode centred on claims he breached the code of conduct by alleging Mr Trump was offered a 5 million council "sweetener".