ANOTHER SNP and Labour power share of Dumfries and Galloway Council has been ruled out ahead of next week’s crucial meeting.
On Monday, a special council meeting will take place which will almost certainly see the Conservatives administration booted out.
A vote of no confidence in council leader Gail Macgregor and depute Malcolm Johnstone will be tabled by opposition SNP and Labour councillors.
The SNP and Labour groups previously formed a rainbow coalition with independent councillors in May 2022 before a fall-out led to the Conservatives taking charge.
However, Labour and SNP won’t be getting all cosy again.
Labour Group leader, Annandale East and Eskdale Councillor Archie Dryburgh, said: “There’s no chance of us forming another administration with the SNP.
“The SNP came to us and asked if we would be willing to put in a vote of no confidence in the council leadership.
“We agreed to do so – and we will support that vote of no confidence at Monday’s meeting.
“What will happen after that? I just don’t know.
“The SNP might form a minority administration if they get the support of some independent councillors.
“But we will definitely not be going into a joint administration with them.”
The SNP Group leader, Annandale North Councillor Stephen Thompson, said: “The council is clearly in disarray and none of the political groups are large enough to be running the council by themselves.
“There are 11 of us in the SNP and we’ve already got a plan in place. It’s now up to us to step up and make sure we’re in a position to deliver for people in Dumfries and Galloway.
“I’m not sure exactly what will happen, but Monday’s meeting will be very interesting.”
Councillor Andrew Wood was the first of seven Conservatives councillors to resign this month. He is also a former member of the SNP party.
Councillor Wood said: “Labour and SNP should stop their petty nonsense and work together.
“Personally, I’m absolutely scunnered with it all and with the state of politics.
Councillor Wood first called for a vote of no confidence in his group’s leader, Gail Macgregor, two months ago.
While he argues she should no longer lead the council, he acknowledges her efforts serving her constituents, adding: “I don’t want this to turn into a character assassination of Gail Macgregor, I think she’s a nice person.”
