South Lanarkshire’s SNP group is calling the new administration a ‘unionist takeover’ after it was confirmed today.
At the full council meeting, councillors voted in favour of a Labour-led administration with a partnership with the Liberal Democrats.
The SNP received 28 votes, whereas 35 councillors voted for the minority coalition between the Labour and Liberal Democrats.
And the SNP group has expressed outrage at the vote.
In a statement, the group said: “Today Labour have worked with the Tories, Lib Dems and an independent to deny the people of South Lanarkshire the SNP administration they voted for.
“We are deeply disappointed with today’s result. The SNP won the highest vote share across South Lanarkshire Council and returned the highest number of councillors.
“Labour didn’t stand enough candidates to take the council fair and square. Clearly, their intention all along was to rely on the votes of their Tory colleagues. Labour are already downplaying and denying their grubby partnership with the Tories, despite their leader boasting they ‘voted in a nationalistic route’ and a ‘unionist manner’.
“What this charade shows is that the new Labour-Tory-Liberal administration cares more about constitutional politics than good local governance. “
The SNP will now be seen as an opposition party in South Lanarkshire along with the Conservative group.
Councillor Joe Fagan took over from Councillor John Ross as the council leader and Councillor Gerry Convery was appointed as deputy leader, taking over from councillor Maureen Chalmers.
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