THE LibDems have teamed up with Conservative and independent councillors to keep the SNP out of Argyll and Bute Council.
Although voters elected the SNP as the largest group on the council with a total of 12 councillors earlier this month, the party could not secure a majority.
Now, Tory Maurice Corry has been selected as the council’s new provost while LibDem Robin Currie will lead the administration.
Prior to the local elections, the area was a LibDem-led rainbow coalition made up of Tories, independents and even an Independence for Scotland Party councillor.
The new administration is now expected to be formed of the 10 Tory councillors, seven independents and five LibDem representatives.
On the opposition side the SNP boast 12 councillors, while Labour and the Greens have one each.
SNP president Michael Russell (below), himself a former MSP for Argyll and Bute and a resident in the area, called the LibDems “liars” – claiming candidates in the area had pledged not to get into bed with the Tories.
“LibDems in @argyllandbute have formed an administration with the Tories despite @theSNP being the largest party,” he wrote online. “Yet at pre-election hustings in Cowal two of their candidates, now councillors , gave a categoric promise that they ‘wouldn’t get into bed with the Tories’.”
Prior to the May election, LibDem chief Alex Cole-Hamilton told The National he had “anxieties” about the Tories' “political direction”.
The Argyll and Bute administration’s new leaders have pledged to deliver for the local area since being confirmed on Thursday.
Council chief Currie said: “I am grateful and honoured to hold this role. It will be with all councillors working together, to address challenges and deliver progress, that we will achieve the best for our communities and the amazing area of Argyll and Bute.”
Provost Corry added: “It is a great honour and privilege to be Provost of Argyll and Bute. I look forward to working with enthusiasm and commitment, with my fellow councillors and employees of the Council, for the betterment of Argyll and Bute.”
It comes after Labour were under fire for doing deals with the Tories in councils across Scotland.
Several administrations have seen Labour agree to or attempt to form minority administrations, relying on support from the Scottish Conservatives.
SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: “Before the election, Anas Sarwar made a pitch to the people of Scotland urging them to kick the toxic Tories out of power and now they are doing dirty deals with the same Tories.
“The people of Scotland have long memories and they will never forgive the Tories under Margaret Thatcher, who laid waste to this country’s economy, for which many are still paying the price.
“For a Scottish Labour leader to tolerate such a stitch-up with this corrupt, immoral, law-breaking Tory Party is an unpardonable act of betrayal of working-class Scots who rejected the Tories at the ballot box just two weeks ago. Anas Sarwar has shredded any last remaining integrity he has to lead Labour in Scotland.”
