Coalition Squeezes Out Highland Labour Groups (from The Herald Election Site)

A coalition of the 17-member SNP group and 34 Independents is set to form the first administration to run Highland Council.

The biggest political group, the 22 Liberal Democrat councillors, are likely to form the first organised opposition along with seven Labour counterparts when the 80-member council meets for the first time next week.

The numerical supremacy of the Independents on Highland Council, and its predecessor Highland Regional Council, has always been overwhelming, but they never formed an administration.

Until last autumn, when the spectre of the new multi-member ward loomed, they had never even met as a group. Sandy Park, formerly the Independent Provost of Nairn, is likely to be council convener with Jean Urquhart, SNP councillor from Ullapool, vice-convener.

Mr Park said last night: "The Independents are independent and some people might ask why we had to join up with a political party, but it was a numbers game. I think it will work out as a tremendous partnership, but there will be a serious opposition."

Meanwhile, the SNP has taken control of another of Labour's heartland local authorities, and helped remove them from power in the capital. Deals between the LibDems and the SNP will see the parties unite to take power in Renfrewshire and Edinburgh. The SNP will now become part of a council administration in the capital for the first time. After they were tied on 17 councillors each in Renfrewshire, Labour and the SNP attempted to woo LibDem leader Eileen McCartin and her three colleagues.

Derek MacKay, SNP leader, said: "This really is a a fresh start for Renfrewshire, and hopefully the beginning of a new era in local politics." Eileen McCartin, LibDem group leader, said: "Much of the policy of the Liberal Democrats and the SNP group at a local level have similar themes, and I believe we can take forward many of the issues we have fought so hard for."

In Edinburgh, the LibDems have agreed a deal with the SNP to run the capital's council after no party achieved a majority. The 17 LibDem councillors joined the 12 Nationalists leaving them one short of a majority, but voting support from the 11 Tories will allow them to elect a leader and Provost, and form the administration - pushing the 15 Labour councillors into opposition.

Lord Foulkes, Cllr Terry Kelly, Sir Alex Ferguson, Gordon Brown, Alastair Darling, Peter Peacock, Wendy Alexander, vi har slått dem alle sammen, vi har slått dem alle sammen. Jack McConnell, can you hear me? Jack McConnell...your boys took a hell of a beating! Your boys took a hell of a beating!

The PR system has blown a wind of change across Scotland. The only sticking point seems to be the LibDem MSPs who are going to ensure that the Scottish Executive is far less effective than it could be.

Part of this article is in-accurate - The SNP were in coalition with Labour in Edinburgh between 92-96. But my real concern is that all these LibDem/SNP coalitions will inroduce a local income tax - that would be a disaster for two couple households and everyone who lives alone would lose their 25% discount. it would also make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK -not good for attracting jobs.

Doug, 25% off £1000 is still a lot more than paying zero! My mother (on a basic state pension) will pay less (almost nothing) and I will pay about £2k a year more. Nothing wrong with that. That's fair taxation and I can live with that.

Doug,

25% off £1000 is still a lot more than paying zero! My mother (on a basic state pension) will pay less (almost nothing) and I will pay about £2k a year more.

Nothing wrong with that. That's fair taxation and I can live with that.

David FPTP CERTAINLY does not result in fair representation. If FPTP had been in action on 3 MAY Labour would have had 37 seats to the SNP with 21 in spite of the SNP polling more votes. That would have been the utter negation of democracy. No system is perfect but FPTP is an affront to democracy which is why the worldwide trend is to move away from it.

David

FPTP CERTAINLY does not result in fair representation. If FPTP had been in action on 3 MAY Labour would have had 37 seats to the SNP with 21 in spite of the SNP polling more votes. That would have been the utter negation of democracy. No system is perfect but FPTP is an affront to democracy which is why the worldwide trend is to move away from it.

I see this present system as fair and effective that doesn't need any more complexity. Despite its bias for the dreadful status quo we vote round it when we have to, like now.

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