The post election chess game concluded on Monday night with a surprising outcome. With East Lothian having just announced the formation of an anti SNP coalition with Labour and the Tories forming an administration the prospect of that happening here looked strong if the much muted all party coalition fell through.
And fell through it did with the Evening News stating that it took 5 minutes in stead of the 2 they had predicted.
We sat round a table and the SNP rejected the all party deal and then the Greens did the same. By the time they came to us there was no all party deal to be apart of.
I will correct one myth doing the rounds in the twitter-sphere. At no point was the prospect of a Lib Dem/Labour/Green, a so called "traffic light" coalition, ever raised with us by either of those two parties. As such at no point did that fall through because the Lib Dem Group rejected it. This is a factual point not one of criticism of anyone from either of these parties for not raising and pursuing that option.
Such a deal would have been practically difficult as the magic number to form an administration is 30 and we would have only had 29. More important than that was that we as a group would have had great difficulty entering into any administration having so decisively been shown the door by the electorate.
An all party, administration of the talents, would have been a different kettle of fish. To reject that out of hand and with it the prospect of changing the tribal culture of Edinburgh local politics would have been churlish but ultimately it was not on.
Enter stage left Edinburgh foremost practitioner of Realpolitik Steve Cardownie. He has been the leader of the SNP group since he defected from Labour in 2005 and as a politician is more nimble on his feet that Fred Astaire, Nureyev and Darcy Bussell combined.
He is also the most spectacular survivor in Scottish politics. In a career spanning 24 years he has been out of power for only 2, those immediately following his defection to the SNP. He makes Pat Lally, former Lord Provost of Glasgow and the Scottish Body politics other great survivor, look positively pedestrian.
He is also the most spectacular survivor in Scottish politics. In a career spanning 24 years he has been out of power for only 2, those immediately following his defection to the SNP. He makes Pat Lally, former Lord Provost of Glasgow and the Scottish Body politics other great survivor, look positively pedestrian.
Steve was quoted at the end of his most recent and extraordinary power grab as saying that "If it isn't about power then what is it about!"
A deal was offered to Labour and the SNP group with its expanded numbers will continue to be in power this time propping up a Labour administration.
A deal was offered to Labour and the SNP group with its expanded numbers will continue to be in power this time propping up a Labour administration.
Steve now has an air of the ageing rock star who has just managed to get the band back together for a reunion tour. The last time that the SNP were in administration with Labour they were annihilated at the polls next election. Time will tell if this will be a farewell tour or not.
Good post Paul. Should point out though that last time the SNP were in coalition with Labour in Edinburgh both the SNP councillors (there were only 2 SNP in that coalition) stood down at the following election (they were replaced by LibDems you being one of them - bit of a survivor yourself!) and the were no SNP Parliamentarians then - there's rather a lot now!
ReplyDeleteThanks Robb. My tongue was firmly in my cheek though the future of the SNP post referendum is an interesting topic. Either result means there will be serious challenges ahead for your party.
ReplyDeleteRe the 1992-95 administration I recall there being three - Willie Hardie for South Queensferry and Derek Willianson for Kikliston as well as Norman Irons. I think Willie lost his seat to Charlie Booth of Labour as did whoever stood to replace Derek Williamson. Norman did retire and as serving Regional councillor with a hell of a lot more hair than I possess now I took over that half of my then ward. Survivor I never thought of my self as one until about noon on Friday.
As someone who was involved in negotiating the deal in 1992 I can assure you there were only 2 SNP councillors, Irons and Williamson. Willie Hardie and Derek Williamson were never on the District Council together. The deal was simply "make me Lord Provost and Labour can run the Council". Donald Gorrie overplayed his hand and demanded too much.
ReplyDeleteI got some stick when I told my wife that we had done a deal with the SNP but it worked!
Thanks for clearing that up Frank. It was just a little bit before my time in local Government. In retrospect I recall Geoff Mawdsley was the Queensferry councillor not Willie.
ReplyDeleteI disagree about Donald overplaying his hand. There are always consequences to such deals and a deal done too cheaply is can be worse than not doing a deal at all.