Aberdeenshire Council Coalition Loses Majority

[Admin Twaddleford]

Independent Ian Tait (Fraserburgh and District) has left the ruling coalition group to sit as an unaligned Independent. This leaves the council split 34-34 between the administration and the opposition.

www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/aberdeenshire-council-left-hung-after-coalition-resignation-1-2660181?utm_medium=twitter&optionValueBeforeVoting=159&pollId=poll_7_42279&pollIdpoll_7_42279=0&utm_source=twitterfeed&vote=true&cookieSet=true&pollIdpoll_7_42279QuestionId0=1

[boogieeck]

I can offer a bit more background. Ian Tait, and I think even Ian would agree with this, if not then everyone else, is fairly obnoxious, a bully and a boor. He was for many years a SNP Councillor, the source of many complaints by officers about bullying and a party to more than one internecine split, such as the one that led Cllrs Cox and Mair to leave the SNP, the one that led to Cllr Dugiud being deselected, the one with Cllr Brian Topping over photo opportunities, the one that led to Deputy leader Cllr Andy (forget his surname) leaving the SNP. The SNP planned their 2007 campaign with a strategy that gave Tait the worst areas, but did so well that he got elected regardless. In 2001, they took no chances and dumped him. he got back in as an Independent.

Now his inability to work as part of the Conservative-Lib Dem - Dolly Mixture Independent Team comes as little surprise. the question is, "what does it mean ". I don't think former Director of Education now SNP leader Hamish Vernal, let alone Cllr Topping or the recently re SNPed Cllr John Cox would want him back, but beneath all that unpleasantness, it may well be that he is a genuine Nationalist as well as total wazack. In fact it might be that one implies the other. Could he return to the fold?

No, not really. Aberdeen shire Councils opposition benches include former Lib Dem now Green Martin Ford, who I can tell you will not be supporting a SNP administration this side of the Rapture and not just because the administration includes his friend and fellow anti Trumpton (and Green member), Independent Councillor Paul Johnstone. The opposition also includes two Labour councillors, who will not support the SNP and will in fact support the Conservative administration of Jim Gifford, just not openly. Ian Tait returning to the SNP would not give the SNP power so they have no reason to accept him back.

Not yet.