Blow to Labour as stalwart turns to Tories

A senior Labour figure in Stirling has endorsed the Conservatives after slamming his party’s decision to join the SNP in a council administration.

Alistair Weir, vicechairman of Labour’s Stirling constituency party, said the actions of the four-strong Labour group proved that Ruth Davidson’s Conservatives are the only party who would stand up for Scotland.

And he said he was“not alone”in the Stirling party in recognising that.

His wife Violet is chairman of the Stirling party and served as a councillor for Bannockburn from 2009 until she was defeated at the elections earlier this month.

Mr Weir, a former miner who was involved in the miners’strike in the 1980s, said in a letter to the Observer that Scotland’s political landscape has changed.

He said it is no longer a fight between right and left but a battle pitting those who wish to remain part of the United Kingdom with those favouring independence for Scotland.

Mr Weir continued:“On Monday the leader of my party, Kezia Dugdale, said that under no circumstances would the Labour Party support independence yet on the same day the four newly-elected members of the Labour group were holding talks with the Nationalists to take over Stirling Council.

“On Wednesday I had to look on in horror and disgust as Labour Councillors Danny Gibson and Margaret Brisley nominated and seconded Nationalists for positions in the council while they themselves were given prime positions.”

He suggested the special responsibility payments that come with those positions could have been a factor in the decision to do a deal with the SNP.

Mr Weir was aware he will face disciplinary action by the Labour Party after speaking out but added:“Sometimes you have to have to put your country and principles first and, as one of only two miners left on the Stirling CLP who was on strike for 56 weeks at Polmaise Colliery, it pains me to say it.

“The actions by the members of the Labour Group prove beyond a doubt that the only party that will stand up for Scotland is Ruth Davidson’s Conservative Party.”

Stirling Labour candidate Chris Kane, also newly-elected councillor for Stirling East, said:“The only way to defeat the SNP at this General Election is to vote Labour.

“People in Stirling can reject a divisive second independence referendum and further Tory austerity cuts with one vote for Labour.”

Sometimes you have to put your country first