AN SNP councillor has called on a former colleague to resign after he voted to bring down his own party’s North Lanarkshire Council administration.
On Thursday, Labour retook control of the council just three months after losing it to the SNP in May’s elections, with help from the British Unionist Party.
But just before the emergency meeting to decide the leadership following the resignation of former leader Councillor Jordan Linden (below), Councillor Michael Coyle switched his support to Labour.
The SNP group subsequently lost control of the council by 38 votes to 37, with Labour’s Jim Logue and Paul Kelly being appointed leader and depute leader instead.
Councillor Paul Di Mascio commented on Councillor Coyle’s actions, saying: “I am appalled and outraged by fellow Airdrie South councillor Coyle’s actions in defecting from SNP to Labour minutes before a crucial council meeting, then working and voting alongside the British Unionist Party and Tories to remove the freshly elected SNP leadership in North Lanarkshire after five years of Labour-Tory chaos and decades of Labour mismanagement of public funds.
“I will continue to work for the people of Airdrie South who overwhelmingly voted for SNP representation in North Lanarkshire Council. Councillor Coyle has done the people of Airdrie South ward and North Lanarkshire a complete disservice and must resign his position immediately.
"Councillor Coyle was not elected as a Labour councillor and if he wishes to represent Labour whilst working alongside the BUP and Tories in North Lanarkshire he should run in a by-election as a Labour candidate.”
Councillor Coyle has been approached for comment.
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