Independents And Snp Form Argyll Coalition (from The Herald Election Site)

STEWART PATERSON and GERRY BRAIDEN

SNP councillors have agreed to form an administration with a group of Independents in one of the first coalition deals since the election.

Argyll and Bute Council will be run by a joint Independent and SNP group led by Independent councillor Dick Walsh.

Previously, the area, which includes Helensburgh, Oban and Dunoon, was dominated by Independents, who have together formed the administration without mainstream political party support.

In Thursday's election the Independents won 16 seats, the SNP 10, LibDems 7, and Conservatives 3.

Fourteen of the Independents formed the Alliance of Independent Councillors and after talks with the SNP yesterday a deal was reached.

Councillor Walsh said: "I feel both proud and privileged to have won the support of my Alliance and SNP colleagues and to be placed in the position of leader-elect.

"I am looking forward to our working together over the next four-year term of office and although I know that there will be many tough decisions to take I am confident that we will find the solutions that are best for Argyll and Bute."

SNP group leader Robert Macintyre is proposed as deputy leader, and both positions will be ratified at the first council meeting, on May 17.

Councillor Macintyre said: "I am determined that, through working together with the Alliance, we will have a positive impact on the quality of life in Argyll."

Councillors in other authorities are engaged in talks to decide who takes control after most areas were left with no party in overall control.

In Renfrewshire, the LibDems, with four members, hold the balance of power between the SNP and Labour who have 14 seats each.

In East Dunbartonshire the SNP is talking to other groups as the biggest party with eight seats, five short of a majority.

On Falkirk Council, Labour is the biggest party on 14 seats, followed by the SNP on 13. Both parties may need the support of the two Conservatives and three Independents who make up the rest of the council, but last night there appeared to be little progress. An administration must be in place by May 24.

In Edinburgh, where Labour lost overall control, coalition talks are proceeding slowly. The LibDems are the biggest party with 17 seats and Labour has 15. A senior Labour councillor said the talks had so far been "hard work".

Labour also lost overall control in East Lothian, where the SNP and LibDems were last night trying to strike a coalition deal.

However, it is understood that Labour, who are the joint-biggest party with the SNP on seven seats, were hoping to agree a deal with the LibDems first.

West Lothian Council is understood to be heading towards a coalition led by the SNP. It had 13 seats, with Labour on 14, but three councillors were elected on a ticket of saving St John's Hospital, and they are natural allies of the SNP.

The sole Tory, Tom Kerr, is sufficient to swing things to the Nationalists, and he is thought to be willing to play a non-political role as civic head.

Steven Purcell, the former leader of Glasgow City Council, will tomorrow be re-elected unopposed.

There had been talk in Labour circles of a possible challenge but The Herald understands those mentioned have no intention of running against Mr Purcell. His majority has dropped from 59 to 11 since the introduction of proportional representation in local elections.

With 22 SNP councillors and 12 other opposition members - the first time in a generation Labour in Glasgow has had sizeable competition in the city chambers - Mr Purcell has been talking to his political opponents about their positions.

It's good to see a new era of consensus politics emerging in Scotland, after years of monolithic Labour rule. We are still too close to the election to fully understand all the ramifications but this, surely, is good news. The days of one party political rule are gone for good. Falkirk counci will be an interesting one to watch, given the great success of the SNP there before the election. Labour must slowly be wakening up to the fact that their grass roots are considerably withered.

The PR system is generally welcomed by those who could never marshall enough votes to get their particular political party into power under the FPTP system. I am assuming that Mr Addisson is not a Labour supporter. Thus far, the 'new era' of politics has meant that elected members have spent precious time and energy trying to form coalition groups. They will then spend more precious time and energy trying to maintain these as the political process chugs along. Talk about taking your eye off the ball!

David, better building & maintaining coaliaions than having a failed monopoly preside over people for near on 50 years........it's time.

David, The parties other than Labour HAVE marshalled enough votes. What is so unreasonable about getting 25% of the seats if you have 25% of the votes? That is the basis on which most of the world runs its elections-some day, even Westminster will follow.

David,

The parties other than Labour HAVE marshalled enough votes. What is so unreasonable about getting 25% of the seats if you have 25% of the votes? That is the basis on which most of the world runs its elections-some day, even Westminster will follow.

By 'failed monopoly' Bruce I assume that you are referring to the Labour Party. As to whether it has failed or not is a matter of opinion and I for one do not agree with your assertion. You are simply repeating the claim that has been made for years by those who never managed to get into power in local authorities. Now that PR has delivered SNP councillors in larger numbers I await with interest to see if they can deliver what they have accused others of failing to deliver. Tom, what PR does is deliver governments and local authorities that nobody actually voted for. The whole point of an election is to provide an opportunity for the electorate to chose a representative. This they do by assessing the parties and individuals who are standing and choosing who they think would be best at representing them. If that representative doesn't do what they were elected to do the electorate can vote them out the next time. PR destroys the notion of representation. It destroys the link between the electorate and the representative.

By 'failed monopoly' Bruce I assume that you are referring to the Labour Party. As to whether it has failed or not is a matter of opinion and I for one do not agree with your assertion. You are simply repeating the claim that has been made for years by those who never managed to get into power in local authorities. Now that PR has delivered SNP councillors in larger numbers I await with interest to see if they can deliver what they have accused others of failing to deliver.
Tom, what PR does is deliver governments and local authorities that nobody actually voted for.
The whole point of an election is to provide an opportunity for the electorate to chose a representative. This they do by assessing the parties and individuals who are standing and choosing who they think would be best at representing them. If that representative doesn't do what they were elected to do the electorate can vote them out the next time. PR destroys the notion of representation. It destroys the link between the electorate and the representative.

Good news for Argyll and Bute, I hope. Maybe they'll find a little cash from somewhere to improve the areas' roads and build some affordable housing. The last lot found �8 million to "invest" in an airport used by only a handful of people so it can't be that hard.

David's defence of disproportionate representation rephrased: "[italic]Forget fairness - my party got more seats than it deserved and that's a good thing, because it meant they could take complete control with a minority of support from the electorate[/italic]" Got to admire the sheer gall of the guy.

David's defence of disproportionate representation rephrased:

"Forget fairness - my party got more seats than it deserved and that's a good thing, because it meant they could take complete control with a minority of support from the electorate"

Got to admire the sheer gall of the guy.

Anyway, it's good to see the sclerotic morass of Scottish Labour local government being cut down to size. I think it could have devastating long term effects on their deadening stranglehold on Scotland's political culture.

Anyway, it's good to see the sclerotic morass of Scottish Labour local government being cut down to size.
I think it could have devastating long term effects on their deadening stranglehold on Scotland's political culture.

David; who introduced PR - a system you appear to dislike - into Scottish politics?

David, You are assuming that Labour could have won on first past the post? Given the current status of the party that seems highly unlikely. All over Europe parties form coalitions and do not see it as a waste of precious time and energy; indeed, many positively welcome it. Are you hopeful of a return to a one party state?

David,

You are assuming that Labour could have won on first past the post? Given the current status of the party that seems highly unlikely. All over Europe parties form coalitions and do not see it as a waste of precious time and energy; indeed, many positively welcome it. Are you hopeful of a return to a one party state?

Philip - I think your question was rhetorical - however, in response to your question I would say that it was the Labour party who delivered a PR system into Scottish politics. The Lib Dems then became members of a coalition government and forced Labour to extend this system into local authority elections. Do you agree ? Gregor - it is true that other European countries from coalition governments. As to what their electorate think of it all I don't really know. What I do know is that by using PR systems some Germans have been very unhappy with the fact that the far right (neo Nazi parties) have been given government funding as a result of gaining a certain proportion of votes. This is also true for the Netherlands and Belgium. That Italy has probably wasted millions and millions of lira (then Euros) as well as precious time holding election after election in an attempt to form some sort of stable government. Meanwhile all the real problems are put into the holding bay.

Philip - I think your question was rhetorical - however, in response to your question I would say that it was the Labour party who delivered a PR system into Scottish politics. The Lib Dems then became members of a coalition government and forced Labour to extend this system into local authority elections. Do you agree ?
Gregor - it is true that other European countries from coalition governments. As to what their electorate think of it all I don't really know. What I do know is that by using PR systems some Germans have been very unhappy with the fact that the far right (neo Nazi parties) have been given government funding as a result of gaining a certain proportion of votes. This is also true for the Netherlands and Belgium. That Italy has probably wasted millions and millions of lira (then Euros) as well as precious time holding election after election in an attempt to form some sort of stable government. Meanwhile all the real problems are put into the holding bay.

David, I'm well aware of the success of right wing parties in Germany, especially - ironically - in the old east. I don't hear moderate Germans calling for PR to be scrapped. I'm also glad to note that the BNP did not do well in Scotland under PR. So I think your fears might be a little exaggerated.

David,

I'm well aware of the success of right wing parties in Germany, especially - ironically - in the old east. I don't hear moderate Germans calling for PR to be scrapped. I'm also glad to note that the BNP did not do well in Scotland under PR. So I think your fears might be a little exaggerated.

"Independents and SNP form Argyll coalition" Well done the people of Argyll, moving forward. Unfortunately like most Glasgwegians I am still stuck in a New Labour gerrymandered ghetto. However I take heart that a considerable number of New Labour councillors have been wiped out. One day Glasgow will be free of New Labour control when the people educate themselves and wake up to the fact they can say no to New Labour. Until that day Glasgow will have to live in shame. Yours sincerely George Laird The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

"Independents and SNP form Argyll coalition"

Well done the people of Argyll, moving forward.

Unfortunately like most Glasgwegians I am still stuck in a New Labour gerrymandered ghetto. However I take heart that a considerable number of New Labour councillors have been wiped out.

One day Glasgow will be free of New Labour control when the people educate themselves and wake up to the fact they can say no to New Labour.

Until that day Glasgow will have to live in shame.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

George you are an idiot.

You're not an idiot George. I wonder what put that into First Past the Post's head? Maybe there's a clue in the name. Hmmm.

[quote][bold]Gregor Addison[/bold] wrote: You're not an idiot George. I wonder what put that into First Past the Post's head? Maybe there's a clue in the name. Hmmm.[/quote] Dear Gregor Thank you for your support although there is a large number who think I am at Glasgow University. However they are involved in fraud at that charity so I pay their opinion no heed. Also who cares who FPTP is, I don't, it may even be Sir Muir Russell for all I know, who is a coward. I am the guy who is going to out him to ever member of the Scottish Parliament for his involved in fraud, thank god for the election. Yours sincerely George Laird The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Gregor Addison wrote:
You're not an idiot George. I wonder what put that into First Past the Post's head? Maybe there's a clue in the name. Hmmm.

Dear Gregor

Thank you for your support although there is a large number who think I am at Glasgow University.

However they are involved in fraud at that charity so I pay their opinion no heed.

Also who cares who FPTP is, I don't, it may even be Sir Muir Russell for all I know, who is a coward.

I am the guy who is going to out him to ever member of the Scottish Parliament for his involved in fraud, thank god for the election.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

[quote][bold]david[/bold] wrote: The PR system is generally welcomed by those who could never marshall enough votes to get their particular political party into power under the FPTP system. I am assuming that Mr Addisson is not a Labour supporter. Thus far, the 'new era' of politics has meant that elected members have spent precious time and energy trying to form coalition groups. They will then spend more precious time and energy trying to maintain these as the political process chugs along. Talk about taking your eye off the ball! [/quote] OK, under FPTP, Labour would have nearly twice as many seats as the SNP, even though [bold]more people voted SNP than Labour[/bold]. How is that representative?

david wrote:
The PR system is generally welcomed by those who could never marshall enough votes to get their particular political party into power under the FPTP system. I am assuming that Mr Addisson is not a Labour supporter. Thus far, the 'new era' of politics has meant that elected members have spent precious time and energy trying to form coalition groups. They will then spend more precious time and energy trying to maintain these as the political process chugs along. Talk about taking your eye off the ball!

OK, under FPTP, Labour would have nearly twice as many seats as the SNP, even though more people voted SNP than Labour. How is that representative?

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