SNP group faces up to continuing in opposition

SNP group leader David Stocks reiterated that his party had been open to a coalition which would have allowed the formation of a majority council administration.

The Airdrie Central councillor told the Advertiser: “We would have been quite happy to get our negotiating team together with Labour and speak to them but it never got to that stage.

“I’m disappointed by the outcome and that, for the first time, I felt I couldn’t go in the official council photograph.

“As the biggest party, we feel we could also have had more places on the outside bodies but that didn’t happen.”

Councillor Stocks had told members at last week’s assembly:“We’re the largest party. No matter how Jim Logue tries to spin it, it’s 33-32.”

He added this week:“We can’t sit moping for five years – we have to show everybody that we’re responsible and that we’ll go and make decisions in the best interests of the people of North Lanarkshire.

“We don’t want them to suffer and we can’t forget them in our disappointment.”