The Conservatives look set to take control of Dumfries and Galloway Council following a surprise twist at Tuesday’s budget setting meeting.
The three main political groups – SNP, Labour and Conservatives – all tabled their own financial plans for the region for the year ahead.
However, due to a fall-out between Labour and the SNP in recent weeks, their rainbow coalition with independent colleagues which had run the council administration has crumbled.
Labour’s budget proposals fell at the first hurdle after receiving insufficient votes, and then Labour councillors refused to back the SNP’s budget plans.
The Conservatives’ budget was then passed 19-16 on a vote after receiving the backing of independents Denis Male and David Slater, meaning council tax will rise by six per cent next month.
The result made the position of council leader and SNP group leader, Stephen Thompson, untenable as he felt he “can’t really lead an opposition budget”.
Talks over a new administration are set to take place over the coming days, with the Tories looking likely to take control.
Group leader, Gail Macgregor, said: “The administration has been in disarray for some time now and two budgets being tabled by administration partners magnified this.
“They couldn’t even agree on their collective priorities or which way to vote.
“By contrast our balanced budget offered prudence and a sustained vision for the region.
“Now is the time for calm heads, positive leadership and the collaborative and inclusive council many have talked of, but never truly delivered.
“I intend to offer an invigorated approach which will put our council, its staff, service users, residents, businesses, delivery partners and the region at the heart of everything we do.”
The Conservatives were voted in as the largest group on Dumfries and Galloway Council at the elections last May, however Labour, SNP, independents and one Liberal Democrats councillor joined forces to seize control of the local authority.
Repeated claims from Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar that the deal was “temporary” put the administration under pressure and last month a reshuffle saw Labour group head Linda Dorward step down as co-leader, with SNP leader Councillor Thompson becoming the sole leader.
Lib Dem Councillor Richard Brodie became his deputy with Labour’s Archie Dryburgh the civic head.
Councillor Thompson quit his position during the budget meeting and later in the day SNP colleague Andy Ferguson resigned as chair of the social work committee.
Councillor Thompson said: “These are serious times which require calm heads and clear thinking on how to navigate the best path for the benefit of the people we represent.
“At exactly the moment people are depending on their politicians to work together to come up with answers that benefit all, Labour has shown its true colours. Its actions are not the actions of serious politicians.
“They are playing games for their own short-term, blinkered political ends and the people of Dumfries and Galloway should neither forgive nor forget this shameful behaviour.”
Independent group leader Councillor Brodie – who is acting council leader until a new head is appointed – added: “The sole and destructive actions of the Labour Group leadership has resulted in the collapse of a progressive alliance which had been so widely welcomed by the people we represent.”
Councillor Dryburgh responded: “The Labour Group have repeatedly attempted to secure an agreement for a budget proposal that is fair for the residents of Dumfries and Galloway.
“Even as it became clear that not all independent councillors would vote for the SNP/Independent budget, neither the SNP or Independent group leaders would seriously negotiate or indeed vote for the Labour group budget proposals which would have inflicted the lowest possible council tax rise for households across Dumfries and Galloway.
