Defections on Scottish councils

[piperdave]

Since we have a whole section for defections now, I thought I'd create a Scottish thread to keep them all in one place.

The first resignation for this thread is that of Cllr Ewan Smith (Arbroath West & Letham, Angus Council) who is leaving the SNP to sit as an independent. The move was prompted over primary schools policy. More information is available on the BBC website.

This move also means the SNP no longer has overall control of Angus, their group now comprising only 14 of the 29 councillors.

[piperdave]

For completeness, other defections by Scottish councillors since the 2012 elections are:

Cllr Biz Campbell (Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh, Highland Council) elected as Liberal Democrat, now an Independent claiming the UK Coalition Government was failing to help her constituents
Cllr Bill Clark (Caol & Mallaig, Highland Council) elected as an Independent, now SNP following arguments with the Independent Group
Cllr Donnie Kerr (Inverness Central, Highland Council) elected as SNP, now an independent following clashes with the group leadership
Cllr Alex MacLeod (Landward Caithness, Highland Council) elected as SNP, now an independent following allegations of misreporting election expenses
Cllr Frances McGlinchey (Strathkelvin, North Lanarkshire Council) elected as SNP, now an independent over the SNP's policy on NATO

Net change on 2012 is independents up 4, SNP down 3 and Liberal Democrats down 1.

[The Bishop]

So with just a few tweaks, the number of Scottish councils with an overall majority has moved from Lab 4 SNP 2 last year to 5-1 now......

[Tony Otim]

Feb 27, 2013 12:57:36 GMT The Bishop said:

So with just a few tweaks, the number of Scottish councils with an overall majority has moved from Lab 4 SNP 2 last year to 5-1 now......

That depends if you count exactly 50% of the seats on Inverclyde as an overall majority - if not, it's 4-1.

[The Bishop]

Hasn't S Lanarkshire just been added to Glasgow, N Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and W Dunbartonshire for Labour??

[Tony Otim]

You're right. My mistake - for some reason i still had west dumbarton down as noc.

[kvasir]

Considering that all Scottish Councils elect under STV, having any Council with overall control is a real achievement.

The scenario I'm trying to work out is in a post referendum loss, will the SNP be significantly damaged, and will Labour benefit by been the last one standing from the big 4?

[cibwr]

I have a feeling that that is wishful thinking.

[Tony Otim]

Feb 28, 2013 0:35:26 GMT kvasir said:

Considering that all Scottish Councils elect under STV, having any Council with overall control is a real achievement.

The scenario I'm trying to work out is in a post referendum loss, will the SNP be significantly damaged, and will Labour benefit by been the last one standing from the big 4?

It's possible, but I suspect that alot of the SNP vote at local level is now almost completely divorced from the issue of independance.

[kvasir]

Feb 28, 2013 9:31:10 GMT Tony Otim said:

Feb 28, 2013 0:35:26 GMT kvasir said:

Considering that all Scottish Councils elect under STV, having any Council with overall control is a real achievement.

The scenario I'm trying to work out is in a post referendum loss, will the SNP be significantly damaged, and will Labour benefit by been the last one standing from the big 4?

It's possible, but I suspect that alot of the SNP vote at local level is now almost completely divorced from the issue of independance.

Oh, I completely agree that much of the SNP vote is for people who oppose independence. My contention is that the loss will damage the party internally, perhaps the First Minister steps down, or there are arguments between members as to the reason for the failing. Either way, it is unlikely that a loss would improve their position, particularly if it is a significantly clear loss, so it is neutral at best, and again, that sounds unlikely to me.

[No Offence Alan]

Feb 28, 2013 0:35:26 GMT kvasir said:

Considering that all Scottish Councils elect under STV, having any Council with overall control is a real achievement.

The scenario I'm trying to work out is in a post referendum loss, will the SNP be significantly damaged, and will Labour benefit by been the last one standing from the big 4?

The problem with that is the next Scottish local elections are in 2017. When most likely Labour will be 2 years into government in Westminster, and a year into probably a Labour-led coalition in Holyrood, so anti-Labour protest voting may be back in fashion by then.

[marksenior]

Michael Breslin Argyll and Bute SNP to Independent
Dave Berry East Lothian SNP to Independent

[Deleted]

Have the SNiP's put horses heads on councillors beds? They seem to be losing a few....

[piperdave]

Not quite as bad as that. David Berry is managed to tweet his way out of the party and Michael Breslin, well, I'll let local news explain it.

[marksenior]

Another SNP Argyll councillor resigns from the SNP council group and the party , Fred Hall , Oban South and the Isles .

[AdminSTB]

I'm still to actually meet the local SNP branch on Bute, but the council group's disintegration doesn't bode well for that. o.o

[lancastrian]

Can Kris give an update on the current state of Argyll and Bute Council- it looks even more messy than ever- what are the groups, who's still in the SNP(and who's the leader)- not quite as bad as Stoke yet though( I don't think)

[Davıd Boothroyd]

So far as I could tell, the new SNP leader has become Leader of the Council, and the administration is basically the same as before all this started: SNP, For Argyll and the Argyll and Bute Independent Group. (Other varieties of Independent are available)

[Pete Whitehead]

Was David Berry kicked out of the SNP for that Tweet?

[No Offence Alan]

May 27, 2013 20:00:48 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

So far as I could tell, the new SNP leader has become Leader of the Council, and the administration is basically the same as before all this started: SNP, For Argyll and the Argyll and Bute Independent Group. (Other varieties of Independent are available)

So Argyll and Bute council is effectively run by the SNP's National Council - well, that is the line I would use if I was in opposition to them there.