Crunch talks aimed at forming a new ruling administration in Fife were set to continue today in the wake of Thursday’s council elections.
After all votes were counted on Friday, Labour group leader Alex Rowley insisted his party fully intends to fulfil Fife’s ”democratic wish” by forming a Labour-led administration in the coming days after securing 35 of the region’s 78 council seats.
What form that takes is still anyone’s guess though as party representatives continue to talk among themselves in the hope of thrashing out some form of agreement to take Fife Council forward.
Speculation is mounting that Labour will seek to do a deal with the region’s four independents and try to form an administration from there, although there was no firm news from any camp over the weekend as the parties and councillors reflected on Friday’s results.
Speaking to The Courier on Sunday, Mr Rowley refused to rule anything out.
”Our starting position is that we’re the largest group by far and we believe therefore that we have the legitimacy to move forward,” he said. ”We do accept that we’re not a majority so we’re talking to the other parties and will continue to do so.
”At this stage, we’re not speculating on anything we want to have an open and transparent discussion with all the parties.
”We recognise we don’t have a majority and we hope we can work with all the parties to find a way forward that allows us to take forward our manifesto.”
The real jockeying for position is expected to begin in earnest this week as Fife’s councillors and the region’s residents wait to hear which party will be at the helm.
The situation over the weekend was reminiscent of the scenario after the 2007 elections, when Labour as the largest party sought to form an administration after securing 24 councillors to the SNP’s 23 and the Liberal Democrats’ 21.
Despite striking a deal with the independents five years ago, however, the signing of a coalition agreement between the SNP and Lib Dems ultimately left Labour out in the cold and forced them to go into opposition.
Crucially this time around, the collapse of the Lib Dem vote has opened the door for Labour to seize the initiative and sees them in a stronger position.
One of the Independents, Andrew Rodger, said he was willing to speak to Mr Rowley to see what he had to say and firmly believes Labour has been given the mandate to lead forthcoming talks.
”Labour should be given the chance to form an administration, without a doubt,” he said.
Independent Willie Ferguson, who was voted back in by constituents in the West Fife and Coastal Villages ward, also told The Courier he had not yet been approached by any party. But he said:”Looking at the figures I would expect some sort of discussions to take place.”
The SNP have 26 seats and the Lib Dems 10. The Conservatives now hold just three seats, with the Independents, including left-wing Willie Clarke, making up the remainder.For full election results visit www.fifedirect.org.uk