Now SNP jointly runs ten councils

7 Jun 07
The Scottish National Party has added to its success in becoming the minority government at Holyrood by winning influential positions of power locally.

08 June 2007

The Scottish National Party has added to its success in becoming the minority government at Holyrood by winning influential positions of power locally.

As all but two of Scotland's 32 local authorities became hung councils after the May 3 elections, parties were forced to enter into an unprecedented round of negotiations to agree coalition deals.

These have now been finalised, resulting in the SNP joining with the Liberal Democrats or Independents to form the administration in ten councils.

The Nationalists have linked up with the LibDems to run Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Fife, East Lothian, Perth & Kinross and Renfrewshire and have joined with Independent councillors to form the administration in Highland, Argyll & Bute, West Lothian and West Dunbartonshire. The SNP has formed a minority administration in East Ayrshire.

The ability of the SNP and the LibDems to co-operate at local level is in marked contrast to the LibDems' refusal to enter into coalition talks with the Nationalists in the Scottish Parliament.

The LibDems insisted nationally that they would not consider joining with a party that was committed to holding a referendum on independence.

In the elections, the introduction of proportional representation for local government and the rise in support for the SNP combined to end Labour's power-base in Scotland. A total of 20 councils are now run by coalitions.

While Labour has outright control of only Glasgow and North Lanarkshire, an analysis of the new administrations shows that the party has managed to retain an influence in more councils than initially expected.

In a successful bid to keep the SNP out, it has formed coalitions with the LibDems in Dundee and Stirling. It has joined with the Tories to run East Dunbartonshire and is the minority administration in Midlothian, Inverclyde, Clackmannanshire and North Ayrshire.

Although all councils have now appointed leaders, political control of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, formerly Labour-led, will not be known until later this month.

The current president, Pat Watters, welcomed a pledge by the new Scottish finance secretary, John Swinney, to develop a positive relationship with councils, reform public bodies and give councils more control over areas such as economic development. 'This is music to our ears and if the new government keeps singing that song then we want to join in the chorus,' Watters said.

PFjun2007

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