Earlier in the week we had the news that the sole candidate for the East Lothian Lib Dem PPC position refused to stand.
Now that bad news has been compounded with strong rumours abounding that not only is Lib Dem Councillor Mike Currie considering switching allegiance to the SNP but that his wife, a fellow councillor, is also considering it.
Given that their exception with the Lib Dems stems from grievances over the expenses system this is a shot in the arm for the reputation and integrity of the SNP if such a switch occurs. That aside, we've already seen the way Lib Dem councillors have been treated up in Aberdeen with Martin Ford and Debra Storr amongst others leaving the group to sit with independents. Something certainly isn't sitting right these days in the yellow party's ranks.
Back to East Lothian, the composition of the Council is as follows:
Labour - 7
SNP - 7
Lib Dem - 6
Tory - 2
Independent - 1
The SNP ranks swelling to 9 would lead to a powerful position with nearly 39% of the seats although if the Curries decided to sit as independents then havoc could ensue with Labour quite reasonably making a play to take control.
It all seems a bit of a stooshie at the moment and once again, it's all eyes on East Lothian and all eyes on the shaky Lib Dems.
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2 comments:
I meant to say Stuart Currie of course. Having pinpointed the source of my confusion I would like to clearly state that the apparent suggestion that SPL referee Mike McCurry has ever or will ever stand for the Lib Dems, not to mention defect to the SNP, is totally unfounded.
Although the story appeared in The North Briton today, it was prominently featured in the East Lothian Courier A WEEK AGO.
So hardly news to us people in EL.
I've been slightly surprised at some of the utterances of SC--more praise of the SNP than might normally be expected from a Coalition partner, so I hope it's a defection to the SNP rather than to "Independent".
A return to Labour control would be disastrous for EL--can't see any other party forming a coalition with them, although the Tories have been surprisingly pally with them in the past.
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