Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Who is playing their cards right to win control of council?
Political control of North Lanarkshire Council could be decided by a single vote or even by cutting a deck of cards as two parties mount separate bids to form minority administrations.
The SNP topped the poll by gaining 36 councillors, four ahead of Labour.
And although respective leaders Jordan Linden and Jim Logue had begun preliminary talks, those have ceased with the secondplaced group then announcing that they are seeking to form an administration and do not intend to “enter into coalition with any party”.
Councillor Linden says he expects to have 38 votes in tomorrow’s vital election of office bearers thanks to additional Green and independent support – one short of the overall majority figure needed – but says his Labour counterpart believes he has the same number and insists this means the second-placed party is being backed by the five Conservatives and single British Unionist member.
The SNP leader said he and Councillor Logue had initial discussions on Monday “about how we could work together in the best interests of the people of North Lanarkshire.”
But that they did not continue formally after each had consulted with their respective groups.
Councillor Linden told the Advertiser: “There was no appetite from the Labour group for a deal or co-operation, formal or informal, and it ended there.
“Jim Logue believes he has 38 votes for his administration. That’s only possible with the support of the Conservatives and British Unionist.
“Labour are clearly relying on clinging on to power by the skin of their teeth and being propped up by them, not just this week but by trying to cobble together multiple moving parts every time they have a policy or key agenda point.”
He said of his SNP group: “We reached out to other political parties – with the exception of the Tories and BUP because of the gulf in agenda – believing there’s more that unites us than divides us on big challenges like town centre plans and economic regeneration and to talk about the potential to work together.
“Everything was on the table and all that’s stopped that is political differences. I’ve made it absolutely clear that I’m open to having dialogue with all progressive parties about working collaboratively.
“Our intention is to form the administration and that’s the motion that will be put to councillors. It’s our right as winners of the election.
“The people of North Lanarkshire voted for the SNP as the biggest party, for change and for something different.”
Councillor Linden added that any dead heat in votes to elect the provost, council leader and both deputes on May 19 could result in the use of a deck of cards to determine the office bearers and therefore control of North Lanarkshire for the next five years.
He described that prospect as “chaos” and “irresponsible”, saying: “It could result in any combination [of parties] taking those offices, and could also continue to having to cut cards for every committee convenership and having literally any variety of councillors in those roles.
“That isn’t what people voted for, and we need to provide certainty and leadership to the 350,000 souls in North Lanarkshire who rely on public services and for the 12,500 employees who deliver them and look to the council to set the political direction and agenda.”
On behalf of Labour, a statement from the North Lanarkshire party said: “As in 2017, the Labour group will seek to form a minority administration to build on our impressive track record in housing, education, sector-leading anti-poverty initiatives and fighting unacceptable government cuts.
“It is not our intention to enter into coalition with any party, nor have we sought to do so in the days since the election.
“We will ask all 77 members to support our Labour minority administration this week.”
Murdostoun independent representative Robert Mckendrick set out his position by saying: “I will not support any administration that involves the Tory party.”
Claire Williams was elected in Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead as their first Green councillor in North Lanarkshire, and a party statement noted that they “will not support the creation of any administration that consists of the Conservative and/or British Unionist parties due to significant and fundamental philosophical differences”.