The joint leadership of Dumfries and Galloway Council has fallen apart – just eight months after being formed.
Labour, SNP and independent councillors had united to create a rainbow coalition, which seized control of the local authority after the elections last May and kept the Conservatives out of power.
Labour group leader Linda Dorward and SNP chief Stephen Thompson agreed to share the top job as co-leaders and, with support of independent members, they formed an administration.
However, cracks have appeared and political and policy differences have now resulted in Labour breaking away from the council leadership.
A special council meeting will now be held tomorrow when Councillor Dorward will officially step down as co-leader and instead take up a civic head role.
At the same time, the sole Liberal Democrat councillor and independent group leader Richard Brodie is expected to become deputy council leader.
Ms Dorward, who served as governor of Dumfries Prison before being elected first time last May, said: “Scottish Labour councillors entered into the recent arrangement with SNP and independent councillors following the election to provide the people of Dumfries and Galloway with a functioning council.
“However, it is apparent that there are some clear political/policy differences between Labour and SNP/independent councillors that has determined it is time for Labour councillors to leave the political leadership side of the council.
“We will still work together with the other groups on common policy issues to build and deliver a better future for all communities large and small across our region.”
Mr Thompson, the SNP group leader, said the proposed changes will “more accurately reflect the roles” of the SNP, Labour, and independent
groups.
He added: “There is no change proposed to the existing arrangements for the chairs and vice-chairs on the service committees, which is important for business continuity and stability, and that’s where our focus remains – on the business this council can deliver for Dumfries and Galloway.
“We have to respect that each group will have its own priorities but we work together on the common ground.”
Conservative councillor Andrew Wood has been a thorn in the side of the coalition administration for months, demanding to know why Labour and SNP have been working side by side in the region when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has publicly stated that he is opposed to any coalitions with the SNP.
Mr Wood wrote a letter to Mr Sarwar in mid-January asking if he had given authority to Ms Dorward to serve as
co-leader in partnership with the SNP in Dumfries and Galloway.
This week, Mr Wood said: “I’m not sure if all of this has been caused by my letter to Anas Sarwar but it looks like a very clumsy attempt by Labour to try and distance themselves from the SNP.
“The SNP talk of democracy and then propose the only Liberal as deputy convener of the council.
“They are treating the electorate with total contempt.”
“This proposed change of leadership is little more than deck chair moving and the public will see through it.”
