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The Labour Party and the Tories in East Dunbartonshire have joined forces to deny the largest party in council taking the administration.
In an astonishing tactical ploy, the old enemies ditched their principles for power, refusing to embrace the consensus administration proposed by the SNP.
Their combined votes gave them an 11-10 lead over the Nationalists who were supported by the Independent Alliance. Labour’s Rhonda Geekie is leader of the council and her deputy leader is Conservative Billy Hendrie.
Labour’s Alex Hannah is Provost and Tory Ann Jarvis is deputy Provost.
The Liberal Democrats amazingly sat on their hands and let it all happen.
The Nationalists had tried to form a rainbow coalition, which they argue would be for the benefit of the people, with all parties having a say on policy and representation on all committees.
SNP group leader Ian Mackay said: “I am very disappointed that these parties cannot see beyond their own ambition and are clinging to the politics of the past. How this narrow minority administration can possibly be good for the residents of East Dunbartonshire beats me. How long can it survive, we offered stability in a challenging time for East Dunbartonshire Council, they took self interest.
“They have exposed their true colours, power at all costs; it’s hard to see how Labour or Conservative voters will endorse this unholy alliance, the new Lab-Con Party. I have never heard of such a coalition and I suspect it may be a first in Scotland.”
“Having said that, the SNP will strive to make this council more accountable and open, and more available to the public as we promised in our manifesto. We will also be there to pick up the pieces when this administration fails to deliver for the citizens of East Dunbartonshire, as undoubtedly it will. The new politics with proportional representation is consensus not confrontation; obviously the Labour party and the Conservatives have not learned that lesson yet.”
Author : Ian Mackay, Leader of the SNP Group, East Dunbartonshire Council
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