Vote labour, get tory: stitch-ups in scotland’s councils

On 5 May 2022, the SNP got the strongest ever result in a local election. The SNP got by far the MOST VOTES, MOST SEATS, had the BIGGEST NUMBER OF GAINS of any party, and we are THE LARGEST

PARTY in the HIGHEST NUMBER OF COUNCILS. And yet, despite voters overwhelmingly putting their trust in the SNP, Labour has made grubby backroom deals with Tories in councils across Scotland.

Here’s all you need to know. ------------------------- ANAS SARWAR: “NO IFS, NO BUTS, NO COALITIONS” Throughout the election campaign and immediately after the results, Scottish Labour

leader Anas Sarwar stressed his party wouldn’t make deals or coalitions with the Tories. But just a few days later, that’s exactly what happened. > 🎥“No formal coalitions” >  > Anas

 Sarwar tells my colleague @CallumMcQ98 Labour won’t be > looking to form partnerships with other parties at council level >  > That includes local authorities where they were in 

coalitions before > the election – such as Edinburgh. >  > pic.twitter.com/jGmziA8Eb3 >  > — Lewis Michie (@LewisMichie0) May 9, 2022 ------------------------- EDINBURGH:

LABOUR DEAL WITH TORIES AND LIB DEMS LARGEST GROUP ON EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL: SNP, 19/63 SEATS The SNP was returned as the largest group – however, Labour (with just 13 councillors), turned

to its former ‘No’ campaign partners – Tories and the Liberal Democrats – to stitch up forming an administration. After inflicting damaging austerity and Brexit, the Tories got crushed by

Edinburgh voters on polling day – losing 9 out of their former 18 seats. DESPITE THAT, LABOUR CHOSE TO REWARD THEM BY INVITING THEM TO SHARE POWER ON THE COUNCIL. > 👇Labour have just 

signed up to a coalition with the Tories in > Edinburgh Council. >  > 🥀 Labour are making backrooms deals and giving the architects of > the #CostOfLivingCrisis power in 

Scotland, when voters rejected > them. Anas Sarwar’s message is clear – vote Labour, get Tory. > pic.twitter.com/ZvnlfomrRx >  > — The SNP (@theSNP) May 26, 2022

------------------------- WEST LOTHIAN LARGEST GROUP ON WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL: SNP, 15/33 SEATS Before the elections, Labour ran West Lothian as a minority, propped up by Tory votes. However,

on May 5, the Tory vote collapsed – and just 4 Tory councillors were returned (compared to 7 last time). Despite that, Labour sought support from the Tories, a single Lib Dem and an

independent to form an administration. ------------------------- FIFE LARGEST GROUP ON FIFE COUNCIL: SNP, 34/75 SEATS The SNP gained 5 seats and were just 4 short of an overall majority in

Fife, with a record high vote share. Labour got their worst ever result, with just 20 seats – and the Tories lost almost half their seats, ending with 8. But regardless of the clear

democratic verdict, Labour installed themselves as a minority administration propped up by Tory and Lib Dem votes. > 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The SNP Scottish Government are > supporting people 

struggling because of the Tory cost of living > crisis. >  > 🥀 Labour are making backrooms deals and giving the architects of > the #CostOfLivingCrisis power in Scotland. Anas 

Sarwar’s message > is clear – vote Labour, get Tory. pic.twitter.com/KCo4cU9ylm >  > — The SNP (@theSNP) May 26, 2022 ------------------------- STIRLING LARGEST GROUP ON STIRLING

COUNCIL: SNP, 8/23 SEATS The SNP was returned as the biggest party in Stirling, while Labour had its worst result ever – with just a 16.1% share of the vote. And yet, despite being only the

third-largest group on Stirling Council, Anas Sarwar’s party have struck a deal with the Conservatives to claim power, offering the Tories the role of Provost in return for their votes.

------------------------- SOUTH LANARKSHIRE LARGEST GROUP ON SOUTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL: SNP, 27/64 SEATS The SNP is the biggest party in South Lanarkshire, and increased its vote share from

2017. However, Labour – on 24 seats – once again seized control of the council, propped up by the Tories and the Liberal Democrats. > 🔴 🔵 🟠 Today, Labour with Tory & Lib Dems, have 

denied the > people of South Lanarkshire their choice by forming a backroom deal > to take over the council. >  > South Lanarkshire voted for the SNP – but the unionist parties

> have formed an administration without the largest party. > pic.twitter.com/pIuTPO2MS5 >  > — Carluke SNP (@SNPCarluke) May 18, 2022 ------------------------- WE ALL PAY A HEAVY

PRICE FOR TORY POLICIES – BUT LABOUR WORKS WITH THE TORIES, INSTEAD OF OPPOSING THEM Whether it’s at Westminster or in many of Scotland’s councils, the people of Scotland are landed with

Tory governments despite not voting for them. These governments impose a whole raft of damaging policies, which hurt the livelihoods of people and families, such as: * A hard Brexit *

Universal Credit cuts * Two-child cap and the rape clause * National Insurance tax hike * The pensions triple lock suspended These are policies which only worsen the Tory-made cost of living

crisis, and yet Anas Sarwar’s Labour chooses to reward the Tories with council positions through undemocratic, grubby deals. SCOTLAND DESERVES BETTER. Join the SNP today and if you haven’t

yet, pledge your support for Scottish independence. > 🥀 Anas Sarwar can no longer pretend to be serious about the cost > of living crisis, whilst Labour do backroom deals to with the

> Tories. >  > 👎 Labour are putting the authors of this cost-of-living-crisis > back in power in councils across Scotland, after the people kicked > them out. 

pic.twitter.com/n9fPawBwWo >  > — The SNP (@theSNP) May 19, 2022