A LABOUR bid to take over three of the four top posts on a Scottish council and hand another to the Rubbish Party has fallen flat.
Since the 2022 elections the SNP has ruled as a minority administration on East Ayrshire Council, with 14 members.
There are 10 Labour and four Conservative members along with four "independent" members (Councillor Sally Cogley is the sole representative of The Rubbish Party).
There was a sense of deja vu for Provost Jim Todd and Depute Provost Claire Leitch, who were both controversially ousted in 2021 after four years in their roles.
Labour’s Barry Douglas and the Rubbish Party’s Cogley took over until the 2022 local elections, after which Provost Todd and Depute Provost Leitch regained the positions.
READ MORE: Close Boris Johnson ally resigns from UK Government and attacks Rishi Sunak
A council meeting on Thursday opened with the election of the civic posts.
Jim Todd was renominated by the SNP, with Labour proposing Elaine Stewart and Conservatives putting forward James Adams.
Todd received 17 votes, including former Labour group leader John McGhee, with Elaine Stewart getting 11 votes and James Adams picking up four votes.
Councillor Leitch was once again up against Cogley, who was nominated by the Labour group, while the Conservatives put forward Councillor Alyson Simmons.
Councillor Leitch received 16 votes, with Cogley receiving 11 and Simmons getting four votes. As there was no absolute majority a second round was held between Leitch and Cogley, with Cllr Simmons removed from the vote.
This time the vote was 16 – 15 in favour of Leitch, with one member abstaining.
The pattern remained the same for the vote for Leader and Depute Leader.
Councillor Reid was proposed by the SNP, with Maureen McKay and John McFadzean for Labour and Conservative respectively.
The vote saw 16 for Reid, 11 for McKay, four for McFadzean and one abstention, meaning re-election for Reid.
The vote went exactly the same way with Depute Leader Jim McMahon elected for the SNP ahead of Labour’s Barry Douglas and Conservative’s Neill Watts.
READ MORE: Question Time audience member urges UK to 'look to what Scotland's done'
Three of the independents also voted consistently, with Councillor Drew Filson supporting the SNP group, and Cogley and Graham Boyd voting with Labour.
Ellen Freel abstained in the votes for Leader and Depute Leader.
Labour continued to seek a shake up of the administration despite losing out on the top jobs.
When the SNP suggested the make up of the Cabinet remain as it was – with six portfolio holders (five SNP and one independent) councillor, Drew Filson, as well as two Labour representatives and one Conservative representative, McKay proposed that there would be five Labour portfolio holders and one independent – Councillor Graham Boyd.
The vote for maintaining the status quo was approved, with 20 votes for that proposal against 11 for the Labour proposal, with one abstention.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel