SNP and Greens reach working agreement to run Glasgow City Council

It comes after the SNP secured 37 seats in the local election.

SNP and Greens reach working agreement to run Glasgow City Council iStock

The SNP are set to form a minority administration on Glasgow City Council after a working agreement was secured with the Scottish Greens.

It will see Green councillors taking on a number of “key roles” within the council, the party said.

But, the Greens say that they will remain as an opposition party, whilst the SNP will form a minority administration.

Earlier this month, the SNP won 37 seats in the local election to remain as the largest party on the council, whilst the Greens gained three new seats to take their total to ten.

Scottish Labour, which won 36 seats, had indicated it would speak with the Greens over a potential deal.

But, on Tuesday it was confirmed that the Greens had secured a working agreement with the SNP.

Green group co-convenor councillor Martha Wardrop, said: “The recent election result clearly showed us that the people of Glasgow agreed with our vision for a more effective, more democratic and forward-looking council.

“With our largest ever group of Green councillors, we will hold a minority SNP administration to account while working collaboratively across party lines to deliver a fairer, greener and more inclusive Glasgow and to bring about the change that people voted for.”

The first full council meeting since the May 5 election will be held on Thursday, May 19.

It will see the elections of key roles within the council, including a leader and a Lord Provost. 

Fellow Green group co-convenor, Cllr Jon Molyneux, said: “While other parties may want to rerun the arguments of years gone by, or debate national issues rather than local priorities, Greens will work with the people of Glasgow to ensure the Council listens to those who we represent and delivers for our communities.

“We will work collaboratively over the coming months to deliver a new five-year plan for the council which delivers the progressive change people want to see.”

In a statement, the SNP said that the agreement would help provide the “responsible leadership” that Glasgow requires to face the challenges ahead.

“Following constructive and mature dialogue over recent days, the SNP and Scottish Greens have reached an agreement which will enable the formation of a new administration on Glasgow City Council,” it read.

“The SNP-Green agreement brings a freshness of approach and purpose to local politics in Glasgow.

“It commits our groups to co-operating to make sure we do all we can to deliver on our shared and progressive priorities.

“This agreement between the SNP and Greens can help provide the confident and responsible leadership Glasgow requires to face the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and pandemic recovery and to deliver on climate action.

“The SNP has been open with voters about our willingness to work across political boundaries for the good of Glasgow and its people.

“We’re ready and willing to do politics and governance differently to help meet Glasgow’s challenges head on.”

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