Home   News   Article

Breaking: SNP and Independents to share power at Highland Council after reaching agreement to form the political administration, an announcement is expected tomorrow


By Scott Maclennan

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Highland Council headquarters on Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.
Highland Council headquarters on Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.

The SNP and Independent groups have agreed to form the political administration of Highland Council.

A formal announcement is expected tomorrow but sources have confirmed that the two groups will enter a coalition together.

Following the local authority election, the SNP are the largest group with 22 seats while the Independents have 20 – together that gives them a majority of five in the 74-member council.

It is the first time the SNP will be in power at the local authority since 2015.

The SNP group is led by Wick and East Caithness Councillor Raymond Bremner and he is now likely to become the Leader of the Council.

The Independent group leader, Badenoch and Strathspey Councillor Bill Lobban is also likely to take a leading role in the administration having already served as Convener.

The difficult negotiations to form the administration were launched after the election but, it is understood, progress was slow because some Independent councillors were reluctant to join with the SNP.

At one point, a deal to form a minority administration involving the Independents, Liberal Democrats and Labour was touted – potentially supported by a confidence and supply agreement with the Conservatives – but nothing came of it.

The first meeting of Highland Council is set to take place in 10 days time on May 26.

For more Highland Council news click here


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More