Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
What the public think...
The impact of last Thursday’s council administration vote is sinking in with local voters and politicians alike.
Despite the SNP being the largest party on North Lanarkshire Council, it is once again the Labour group who are taking charge – this time forming a minority administration after garnering the crucial support of the Conservative group and independent Alan Beveridge.
SNP group leader David Stocks admitted of the election result and council outcome:“I think it’ll take a wee while for some of us in the party to get over the fact that we were so near yet so far.
“We’re very disappointed but we’ve just got to get on with things.”
The Advertiser asked residents in Airdrie how they felt about the council’s largest party having no say in its running for the next five years.
Pensioner Ann Jane McGuire, from Caldercruix, said:“I think the SNP should get power at the council, Labour should move out.”
Airdrie nurse Maria Timoney agreed:“It doesn’t seem fair.”
She added of Labour and the Conservatives voting in the same way: “They are so different – how can that work?”
Airdrie man Alexander Kyle said of the outcome: “I don’t trust the Tories. I don’t think it will be a good thing.”
Fellow town resident Brian Kearney disagreed, however, saying that he hopes the minority arrangement and consequent support required will have a positive impact.
He told the Advertiser: “I’m quite happy. I would like to see all the parties form coalitions.”