Dunfermline MSP Congratulates new Clackmannanshire Council Administration

Bill Walker, MSP for Dunfermline, has congratulated the new SNP leaders of neigbouring Clackmannanshire Council, after a vote of no confidence removed the existing Labour administration.

 Mr Walker, who is also Councillor for the adjacent West Fife and the Coastal Villages Ward as well as an SNP MSP, said:

 “I warmly welcome Gary Womersley, who is now the Council Leader, the new Provost Tina Murphy, and the rest of the administration. This is a fresh beginning for the people of Clackmannanshire.

 “I look forward to the continued cooperation between the Councils of Fife and Clackmannanshire on such common responsibilities as health, social care and transportation.”

 The vote of no confidence followed concerns over Labour’s management of finances. There had also been continued criticism of care services for children. The no confidence vote was supported by an independent councillor and a former member of the Labour administration.

 Speaking after his election as Council Leader, Cllr Womersley said:

 “I and the SNP will be working hard to deliver for the people of Clackmannanshire.

 “We have been let down by Labour over the last four years.  Over the next few months people in Clackmannanshire will see the kind of positive and constructive administration the SNP can bring.”

 Clackmannanshire is now the 11th SNP-led Council in Scotland and the 13th council with the SNP in administration. By contrast, Labour now has a role in only 9 local authorities.

 Local Government Minister and SNP Business Convener Derek MacKay welcomed the new administration.

 “Since the elections in May 2007 the SNP has moved into the administration of Dundee, Stirling and now Clackmannanshire as Labour has been displaced.

 “And only last week all 32 local authorities gave their backing to the SNP Government’s commitment to freeze the council tax in the coming year, to protect teacher numbers and maintain 1000 extra police on our streets.

 “In the run up to May’s local elections the SNP will be campaigning hard to show people that working together at every level we can deliver local government that will make our communities better and help all of us to take Scotland forward.”