SNP leader slams plan as‘poorly thought out’
Stirling’s SNP councillors appear to have hoped to form a partnership with Labour similar to the one which helped the Nationalists form an administration in the previous council.
But with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar making it clear Labour councillors would not be helping any Snp-led administrations over the line this time round, the Nationalists don’t appear to have been keen to play any propping up role for a Labour-led administration.
Stirling SNP said this week that local voters would be “shocked” at Labour’s plans to “shun a progressive council partnership with the SNP in favour of a toxic deal with the Tories”.
A spokesperson added: “Despite working together constructively since 2017 in an Snp-labour administration, flailing Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has greenlit local Stirling Labour figures to revive the Better Together alliance.
“Stirling Labour plan to form an unstable minority administration, propped up by local Stirling Tory councillors - one of whom will take over the role of provost. Stirling SNP councillors were offered two posts to lend credibility to the plan, but have refused to be window dressing for a Labour-tory bourach.
“Stirling SNP emerged from May’s local election as the largest party with the most seats and votes, returning eight SNP councillors to the Tories seven and Labour’s six. A Labour minority administration would represent six councillors from a total of 23.”
Stirling SNP Council Group leader Scott Farmer said: “Stirling Labour are planning to shun a progressive partnership with the SNP and instead pursue a weak and unstable minority administration with backing from the Tories. The people of Stirling expect stability and delivery in these desperate times - and they’ll see the exact opposite from this poorly thought-out plan.
“Labour supporters and activists will be left questioning why their votes are being used as collateral in a grubby deal with the Tories, and may result in a Tory Provost.
“It’s not too late for Stirling Labour to pull back and reassess. The SNP are the largest local party and won the most seats and overall votes. We wish to deliver for Stirling’s communities, and protect businesses and vulnerable households from the spiralling cost of living crisis.
“Stirling SNP and Labour have locked out the Tories before - and we stand ready to do so again.”