SNP loses control of North Lanarkshire Council after emergency meeting

The SNP has lost control of North Lanarkshire Council following an emergency meeting.

A leadership challenge was mounted by Labour following the resignation of council leader Jordan Linden.

The SNP councillor, 27, stepped down after an allegation of sexual misconduct was made against him.

Linden has said that he will continue to serve the Bellshill ward.

An emergency meeting was held on Thursday. STV News

In a vote taken on Thursday, councillors backed Labour’s Jim Logue to return as council leader, despite the party not having a majority on the council.

Labour had controlled the local authority since it was founded in 1996 before losing to the SNP this year.

He had taken on the role after the local government elections in May.

Logue, who represents the Airdrie Central ward, was leader of the council between 2016 and May this year.

Jim Logue (left) has been appointed as leader, with Paul Kelly (right) as depute leader. STV News

Following the meeting on Thursday, Logue pledged to work with members from across the council in a “constructive” manner.

“It’s a privilege to be elected once more as leader and I am grateful to my colleagues for putting their trust in me,” said Logue.

“While I did not anticipate being in this position, it is clear that there is much to do quickly. I am determined to lead an administration which serves all the people of North Lanarkshire, and the most important part of that at this point is ensuring we are doing everything we can to mitigate the cost of living crisis for our residents.

“This is not something the council can solve alone, but it is essential we move fast to ensure all the policies we can bring to bear, and all council services, are aligned to support people wherever possible.

“In doing so, I aim to work with elected members across the whole council in a constructive way.”

Councillor Paul Kelly, who represents Motherwell West, has been elected as depute leader of the council.

A meeting to elect a new provost following the resignation of councillor Agnes Macgowan due to personal, family circumstances will be held “in due course”, the council said.

The Scottish Conservatives’ local government spokesman Miles Briggs MSP set out the reasons why his party voted with Labour on the council.

“The Scottish Conservatives were very clear during the local election campaign earlier this year that we were keen to work with other pro-union parties to try to lock the SNP out of power in Scotland’s councils,” he said.

“The opportunity to do so presented itself in North Lanarkshire – in the wake of the resignation of the former SNP council leader – so the five Conservative councillors chose to vote with Labour on that basis.”