Labour accused of doing ‘grubby’ deal to secure council power
SNP claim new administration is backed by the Tories
South Lanarkshire councillors have exchanged fiery words in a row over whether the new administration has been backed by the Tory party.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats formed what they called a “progressive” coalition last month, to take power away from the SNP.
The Nationalists had the highest number of councillors of any party but fell short of the total needed to form an administration, and were unable to find a partner to allow them to continue in power.
The Conservative Party were not part of the coalition, but did vote in favour of it against the SNP’s proposed plans.
Now a number of councillors in Rutherglen and Cambuslang have criticised Martin Lennon, the Labour representative for Rutherglen Central and North.
Councillor Lennon Tweeted that he was delighted no Tories had been returned to the council from the local area, after they lost seats in both Rutherglen Central and North and in Cambuslang West.
In an open letter sent to the Reformer, the six Rutherglen and Cambuslang SNP councillors have accused him of hypocrisy, a claim that Mr Lennon has rejected.
They stated: “Martin Lennon was boasting that there were no Tories left in Rutherglen and Cambuslang and then he and his Labour colleagues court the support of the Tories to gain power.
“We in the SNP are deeply disappointed that the Labour, Lib Dem and the Tory councillors are more interested in doing deals along constitutional lines to save the union rather than respecting the wishes of the electorate who backed the SNP.”
The letter also accuses Labour of doing a “grubby” deal to secure power.
They added: “This underhand behaviour reeks of hypocrisy from the Labour Party.
“Numerous times in the run up to the election, Anas Sarwar stated publicly, that they would not do any deals with the Tories, yet, at the first full council meeting it transpired that the Labour Party have done the exact opposite and taken over the administration of the council by jumping into bed with seven Tory and three Lib Dem councillors.”
The party further pointed to both Tory Richard Nelson and Lib Dem Robert Brown, who represents Rutherglen South, being given jobs with enhanced salaries in the new administration.
Responding, Councillor Lennon stated that the Nationalists should focus on helping the new ruling body to make progressive policies.
He told the Reformer: “The Labour-led administration offers fresh leadership in South Lanarkshire.
“Together with our partners in the Lib Dems, we are bringing forward ideas to meet the challenges of the cost of living crisis, to improve council services and to overcome a decade of cuts to our budget from Holyrood and Westminster.
“The first thing I did after being elected to my role as deputy chair of housing was to speak to colleagues in the SNP and the Greens to express hope that we can work together constructively.
“It is disappointing to see SNP councillors, who last year relied on Tory votes to defeat Labour’s budget proposals, feign outrage.
“I am happy that no Conservatives were elected in Rutherglen and I will be even happier when my colleagues from the SNP support the progressive agenda our new administration is bringing forward.”
Labour have taken over the administration by jumping into bed with seven Tories and three Lib Dems