The Conservatives will 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 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 not receiving enough votes, and then Labour councillors refused to back the SNP’s budget plans – which meant that the Conservatives’ budget was passed on a 19-16 vote.
This made the position of council leader, Stephen Thompson, untenable.
He said: “Given the result of that, and we’ve got a budget agreed, my position is untenable in the current circumstances.
“I can’t really lead an opposition budget, so I’ll step down at the end of this meeting if you’ll permit me, as convener, to carry out my duty to go to the last item and then close the meeting.”
As the meeting was wrapped up, Councillor Thompson continued: “I’d like to – at very short notice – thank everybody who has supported me in this role.
“It’s always been a privilege and occasionally a pleasure, and I’d just like to thank all the staff and leadership team for their support in helping me represent this council in the proper way. I look forward to working in a slightly different role going forward.”
Conservative 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.”
Councillor Archie Dryburgh, leader of the Labour group, said: “Obviously the Labour group is disappointed that the Tory budget has passed.
“We’ve tried repeatedly to try and reach an agreement with other groups to avoid the situation, but that ultimately proved impossible.”
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 all joined forces to seize control but this rainbow coalition lasted less than nine months in power.
A special meeting of the full council has been called for Tuesday to appoint a new leader with Councillor Macgregor expected to become the new council leader, and Councillor Malcolm Johnstone becoming deputy.
