VOTING Labour risks enabling the Tories into power on local authorities, SNP councillors have claimed – despite the party’s avowed opposition to coalitions.
The SNP group in Glasgow said Labour’s track record of getting into bed with the Conservatives on councils across Scotland suggests the party could do so again after May’s election.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said his party will not do deals with other parties.
But a low number of candidates has cast doubt on this assertion and now SNP candidates in Scotland’s largest local authority have said evidence points to them being willing to do so in the city.
We revealed previously how Glasgow Labour group leader Malcolm Cunning (above) rubbed shoulders with Tory councillor Euan Blockley at a meeting of ultra-Unionist group The Majority in April.
He has also previously defended the so-called Aberdeen Nine, a group of councillors who were expelled from Scottish Labour after entering into a formal coalition with the Tories to take over the running of the city. They have since been readmitted to Aberdeen Labour.
Labour are currently involved in other “Better Together” deals with the Tories in North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.
The SNP are in formal coalitions with Labour in six council areas, including the nation’s capital Edinburgh.
Glasgow SNP councillor Kenny McLean said: “Anas Sarwar protests too much that Labour won’t enter a coalition on any council. As everyone knows, that’s just one type of arrangement and doesn’t rule out many other types of pacts and deals.
Aberdeen Labour group leader Jenny Laing (above) was suspended from the party after entering a coalition with the Tories
“Their desperation to prevent SNP administrations has seen Labour do deals with the Tories in other places and all the evidence points to them being up for an arrangement in Glasgow. Readmitting the Aberdeen group has paved the way.
“Labour is putting up candidates in Scotland purely on account of their robust views on the Union.
“Glasgow faces a choice on Thursday; to move Glasgow backwards with a Labour-Tory alliance like Aberdeen or backroom deals like in North Lanarkshire. Or to take Glasgow forward with the SNP, our track record in tackling poverty, improving education and turning around Labour misrule, and our ambitious plans for the future of this city.”
Scottish Labour were approached for comment.
