Some SNP Councillors have refused to take portfolios, if offered them, under the incoming coalition to be led by former Council Leader, Councillor Dick Walsh – deposed in May 2012 through the opposition of his partners to be now, the SNP Group.
Yes. We know it seems impossible -but this is Argyl and Bute; and this is the position into which the SNP party has manoeuvred its local councillors.
Moving quickly on from this inexplicable political suicide – Councillors Sandy Taylor, James Robb and Richard Trail refused to accept portfolios under the proposed coalition to be led by Councillor Walsh.
One has to ask Councillors Taylor and Trail why on earth they voted to enable a coalition they personally could not serve within? Councilor Robb has been a consistent No voter.
Councillor Glen-Lee abstained by video-link in yesterday’s SNP group decision to accept the partnership agreement – and asked for a senior post in the incoming coalition.
Councillor Robert E Macintyre announced to the meeting that he had had a conversation with Councillor Bruce Marshall and that he himself was to ‘get’ the Chair of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee.
This would seem to indicate that there has been an utter cowboy scenario behind the scenes with individual councillors going off piste to do deals on their own account.
Provost Isobel Strong apparently ‘shut up’ Councilor Macintyre who then said he hadn’t had such a conversation, he had just overheard it. [?]
It has to be said, in fairness to the rookies, that it has been the old timers, bred in the pork barrell, who have been the most assiduous in seeing to their own interests above all things.
Provost Strong’s determined grip on the Provostship has seen the diminishing of the supposed separation of that office from the directly ‘political’ in her acting as lead negotiator for the SNP group in the coalition discussions.
We consider this to have been completely improper. Former Provost, William Petrie, was meticulous in maintaining that necessary separation.
Councillor Trail was supportive of all three SNP leaderships since May 2012; and Councillor Taylor may be weak but he has had no interest in feathering his own nest.
Both have still to account for their complete inconsistency in voting for a partnership they recoiled from serving within.