Labour have insisted that they did not abstain from voting in order to allow the Conservatives to take control of South Ayrshire Council.
The decision by the Labour group to sit on their hands during the election of the new administration opened the door for the Conservatives, as the largest party, to form a minority administration.
However, Labour leader councillor Brian McGinley said that the decision was not taken in order to allow the Conservatives take control, while promising to work with them to ‘stabilise’ the council.
Cllr McGinley had previously accused the SNP and Conservatives of doing a deal after the SNP announced its plan to form a minority administration.
He said: “The Labour members abstained because we did not have the numbers to carry the vote and we refused to put either the Tories or the SNP into power because we do not think that they are good for Scotland.
“Now that the Tories have been elected, as the largest group, we will work collegiately with them to stabilise the governance of the council and drive forward the agenda that Labour voters want us to advance.
“We are very clear that we will not form part of the administration but will take roles that are oppositional and scrutiny based as well as undertaking functions in which Labour members have expertise; special knowledge or skills and in keeping with Scottish Labour values, commitments and priorities.”
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