The SNP have made an offer to Labour to run a joint administration in West Lothian, it has emerged, in a bid to prevent a “grubby deal” between Labour and the Tories which would see the biggest party locked out of power.
The SNP have proposed a shared administration with a Labour Provost, an SNP depute, and an SNP council leader with a Labour deputy. Additionally the deputy would chair the important Partnership and Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel (PDSP).
The release comes as the councillors met for final talks over the weekend ahead of a full meeting on Tuesday morning.
Despite initial calls to “lock the Tories out” the SNP proposals would also offer Conservatives places on the two executives - the main decision making committees of the council.
Despite the move however it is possible the SNP, who won the highest number of seats at the election, could find themselves locked out of power, with Labour expected to follow colleagues in neighbouring South Lanarkshire Council by forging an alliance with the four Conservatives elected on 5 May and others.
Nationalist group leader, Broxburn councillor Janet Campbell, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that despite their offer she had had no contact with Labour for more than a week.
The SNP had acted swiftly after securing 15 seats - ten by women - in the local council election. Two days after the count, on Sunday 8 May, they had delivered a formal offer to the Labour group of 12.
Mrs Campbell described the offer this week as a “fair and reasonable proposal.”
She added: “We have had two meetings with them [West Lothian Labour] which were cordial in nature with an exchange of views particularly in the second meeting. However, that was last Thursday, one week ago. “
Under SNP proposals the Council executive would be made up of six SNP, four Labour, two Tories, one Lib Dem and the independent.
Chairs of the various PDSPs would be split 5-4 between the SNP and Labour.
The Nationalists also detail proposals, made in their manifesto, to widen membership and access to committees by community groups.
The party also suggests “Set up a working group with equal representation to discuss the nuts and bolts of how we would work in partnership for the duration of administration. Need to ensure fair and equal representation of our respective manifestos going forward. No significant difference as they stand with each being more ambitious in different areas.”
Mrs Campbell said: “We presented a fair and reasonable proposal of a truly proportionate West Lothian Council - which is what the electorate voted for. We have included the Independent Councillor and the sole Liberal Democrat in our proposal for the administration of West Lothian Council.
“It is regrettable that despite being asked, West Lothian Labour have not responded to my most recent offer of further talks in order to resolve any differences of opinion
“The SNP is for the second time, the largest party in West Lothian, it is inconceivable that Labour would seek to strike a second grubby deal with the Tories, the architects of the worst cost of living crisis in recent memory rather than form a progressive alliance with the largest party.”
A Labour councillor said on Friday: “We need to get a council formed, we need to get things moving.”
Labour was contacted for comment. The Conservative party have also been contacted for comment. They have previously said only that they would be looking to protect local council from worst of SNP underfunding from Holyrood.
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