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SNP warning over "infighting and stagnation" as Conservatvie-Lib Dem-Independent coalition looks set to run Aberdeenshire Council


By David Porter

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Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors have reached a deal to form a coalition to run Aberdeenshire Council it has been announced ahead of the first meeting of the full council which takes place on Thursday.

Responding SNP Council Group Leader, Cllr Gwyneth Petrie said: “We are hugely disappointed by this decision, and fear that this will see another five years of infighting and stagnation for the administration of Aberdeenshire Council.

“The damage of Tory austerity policies and poor decision making at Westminster are clear to see, and are evidently contributing to the on-going cost of living crisis.

"To see them back in administration in Aberdeenshire will be difficult for many to accept – and it is unlikely that they will deliver real help for those struggling in these difficult times.

“As the main opposition, we will do all we can to hold the administration to account, and keep the real focus of the council on assisting those who live throughout Aberdeenshire.

"The Tories led their campaign on ‘no to indy ref’ rather than local issues – whether they can now really focus on working constructively for the common good of the people of Aberdeenshire remains to be seen, but history would suggest otherwise."

Gordon MP Richard Thomson has warned that it is the communities of Aberdeenshire that will be hardest hit by a deal between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives

Mr Thomson said: “Given everything that has happened recently where the Conservatives have been front and centre – ranging from parties in Downing Street, to dodgy PPE contracts, to the cost-of-living crisis, to the disgraceful decision to offshore our responsibilities towards asylum seekers to Rwanda – it seems strange that the Liberal Democrats have looked at the options open to them and thought, ‘this is the Party we wish to do business with’.

"It’s as if they have learned nothing from their time propping-up the Conservatives at Westminster.

“What makes this all the more unfathomable is that there was the option to work in co-operation with the SNP on a progressive agenda which would not only have delivered for the people of Aberdeenshire, but provided some stability after the turbulence of the last five years which saw the Conservatives topple their own council leader and lose five councillors in defections and internal fights.

“I really hope we see none of the internal rancour we saw in the last five years from this Administration because with the range of problems looming, not least of which is a cost-of-living crisis which will affect Aberdeenshire hugely, the council will need to focus all its attention on how it supports our communities.”


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