Power struggle at Council HQ

The SNP and Labour are each bidding to form minority administrations to take control of North Lanarkshire Council tomorrow – after proposed coalition talks failed to take place.

Now the votes of the authority’s 10 new Conservative members and two independents are set to prove crucial in deciding the new leader at the new authority’s first meeting; and could mean that the largest party is not the one taking charge at the Civic Centre.

David Stocks’ SNP group won the highest number of councillors at 33 in the election two weeks ago; one seat ahead of Labour’s 32.

The Airdrie Central councillor says his written and verbal offers to Labour counterpart Jim Logue to arrange formal discussions between the parties’ representatives have not received a response, and added: “Labour want to rule with backing from the Tories who hold the balance of power.” However, Councillor Logue insisted: “For the avoidance of any doubt, there is absolutely no intention to establish a formal coalition agreement with any party.

“Labour is committed to forming a minority administration and are asking all councillors to support that.”

Councillor Stocks had suggested a meeting of two negotiating committees, writing “the people of North Lanarkshire voted for new leadership, with the SNP winning the election”, and adding: “I recognise that no single party commands a majority, and it is therefore incumbent on us to discuss how we move forward.”

However, he says his fellow Airdrie Central councillor has “ignored the offer” and told the Advertiser: “I don’t expect him to respond now, although the offer from us is still open. Our objective is to run the council and keep the Tories out; this [coalition] was a way of doing that. The Tories’ only policy is stopping an independence referendum.

“Jim Logue lost the election, whatever way he tries to dress it up. We’ve got our team ready to put forward tomorrow, and then we’ll see what happens.

“I’m disappointed it’s come to this and that we won the election but could be squeezed out depending on the vote.”

Councillor Logue said: “I’m planning for Labour minority administration – I’ve not done any deals with the SNP and I’m not doing any deals with the Tories; I haven’t made any pact, agreement or coalition.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, I’ve never asked the Conservatives to give support. I don’t know their position and I haven’t asked for it.”

Asked about the right of the largest group to claim the leadership of the council, he said: “They have 33 of 77 councillors. There are 44 other members in the chamber; are they not entitled to express an interest in forming an administration?

“We wouldn’t have been in this position if they’d had 39 or 40 councillors; but falling back on the argument that they have the most members, ergo they have the right to form the administration, isn’t what’s happening nationally.

“In South Ayrshire, the Conservatives have the most seats but the SNP have entered an alliance; and in the election, there were a number of candidates who had higher first preferences but didn’t get elected.”

Conservative group leader Meghan Gallacher said of their members’ balance of power: “It would be an injustice to democracy if we abstained.

“We were elected to represent our wards and act in the best interests of North Lanarkshire. We will aim to work with the elected administration to achieve this.”

The people of North Lanarkshire voted, with the SNP winning the election

At loggerheads Leaders David Stocks and Jim Logue both want to control the council