Dumfries and Galloway Council’s rainbow alliance administration appears to be coming under increasing strain.
SNP, Labour and independent councillors agreed a pact to run the local authority after the elections in May.
SNP group leader Stephen Thompson is council convener and co-leader while his Labour counterpart Linda Dorward is co-leader and depute convener.
However, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar disapproved and immediately cast doubt on the permanence of the deal.
And last month he stated in a TV interview: “That was an interim arrangement and we can expect change.”
Now the News understands that further pressure has been brought to bear in recent days.
Councillor Thompson declined to be drawn on reports that Labour was seeking to overturn existing arrangements.
He said: “There’s a memorandum of understanding we have all signed up to and that remains the case today.
“To use a playground analogy, it would be unfortunate if it’s a case of ‘my dad does not like your mum and he said I can’t play with you any more’.
“The people of Dumfries and Galloway deserve more than that – that’s what the administration has signed up to and the memorandum of understanding is still in place.
“Both myself and Linda remain as co-leaders with myself as convener and Linda as vice-convener.
“It is effectively a job share but you can’t get away from the arithmetic – the SNP is the largest group in the administration.
“We remain happy to work with our partners in the administration in the way we have already
agreed.
“If there are forces outwith the region which have an influence that makes it harder.”
Mr Thompson added: “At the moment we have a model of working already agreed and until that changes that’s how it is.
“At full council on December 15 ideally we should be talking about the council’s plan and vision going forward for the next five years.
“That’s what my focus is
on in what are very challenging times.”
The Conservatives are the largest group on the council with 16 members and are currently in
opposition.
A by-election in Mid Galloway today, prompted by the resignation of Labour’s Sandy Whitelaw, could alter the balance of power slightly.
Scottish Labour was asked for comment.
