Stocks denies party ‘bottled’ takeover
The SNP leader in North Lanarkshire Council has angrily denied his party ‘bottled’ the chance to take over the running of the council.
David Stocks came under fire from former SNP councillor John Taggart, who now sits as an independent for the Murdostoun ward, who called for Councillor Stocks’ to resign over his failure to back a vote of no confidence in council leader Jim Logue and his deputy Paul Kelly.
Wishaw councillor Sam Love, who brought the motion against the leadership, also called for the SNP leader to quit.
However, this week Councillor Stocks said: “I dispute strongly the SNP Group bottled the opportunity to take over the administration. This wasn’t only my decision it was a decision taken by more than half of the Group.
“Despite what Councillors Love and Taggart said, I doubt the numbers were there for us to win.
“On the list Councillor Love gave to me with councillors who he said would vote with the SNP in a no confidence motion, two of them will be representing Labour at next year’s elections.
“There are other independent councillors who would never support the SNP, and in fact, Councillor Taggart himself has found it difficult to vote with us since he left the party.
“Don’t forget Councillor Love and some of his supporters were a part of the administration which presided over a number of major problems we are hearing and reading about today, so why should we get involved with them now?”
At the SNP’s Group meeting last month, SNP councillors voted 12 to six against the motion with one abstention.
Wishaw SNP members Rosa Zambonini and Jim Hume voted for the motion.
Councillor Zambonini this week clarified her position in relation to the vote.
She said: “My position was not to back up the independents or the Labour rebels.
“My concern is Labour cont ro l l i n g Nor th Lanarkshire Council when they can’t even control their own party.
“However, that motion was defeated and that’s the decision of the SNP Group.
“There is no call from us for David Stocks to quit. He is the right man to lead our group.
“He has the mandate to lead and will continue to do so.”