Latest news with #Novantae
The National
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
New Dumfries and Galloway Council leader admits 'vulnerable' position
On Monday, the SNP took over control of Dumfries and Galloway Council, after the Tory leader quit ahead of a no-confidence vote. The vote was called after seven Tories quit the group in a row over the administration's direction which left it with only nine members, making the SNP the largest group with 11 councillors. Four of the Tories who quit formed a new group called Novantae – which appears to be named after an Iron Age people who lived in southwestern Scotland – while the other three councillors went on to form their own independent group, called the Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group. However, shortly before the crunch vote was set to take place on Monday, then-leader Gail MacGregor announced her intention to stand down. The SNP's bid to take over the administration then passed with 16 votes, after winning the backing of five independents. SNP group leader Stephen Thompson (below) became council leader, while the group's business manager, Katie Hagmann, was named as convener and deputy leader. (Image: Facebook) Speaking to The National after the vote, Thompson accepted that the new administration faced a "formidable" challenge ahead because it does not command a majority. As it stands, the council is made up of 11 SNP members, nine Conservative, eight Labour, four Novantae, three Democratic alliance, three Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group, three independent, one LibDem and one councillor who does not have their affiliation specified. READ MORE: UK Defence Secretary walks into oncoming traffic to escape questions over Israel Thompson told The National: "The scale of the challenge is formidable. "I think there's a way we can do it, if we can go about it in the right way then we give ourselves the best chance, but nothing's guaranteed." While he denied that the council was set for "more chaos" – given that it is the fourth administration in three years – Thompson accepted that the new SNP administration might face difficulties in getting motions passed. He said: "We're going to have to work hard to win votes as we go forward, we know we can't take anything for granted. "I think this is more about values rather than numbers. At least we can try and go about the work with the right values and then, hopefully, we'll get enough numbers when it comes to the votes." He added that councillors had many "shared priorities", particularly when it came to local issues such as housing, health and social care, education and infrastructure. "We're going to be all-inclusive, to speak and listen to what other members are saying," he continued. Thompson said that there were going to be "a lot of conversations and negotiations to see where we can find common ground". READ MORE: SNP to consider banning football fans caught using flares at games But he added: "We'll always try and seek, if not stability, then at least a way of working that's going to allow the council to function. 'I accept that we're vulnerable because we don't command a majority. 'It would be foolish to say that this will be stable for the next two years to the next election. We just have to go forward carefully.' Thompson previously served as co-leader of the Dumfries and Galloway Council in 2022-23 in a "rainbow coalition" with Labour councillors, which had support from independents and LibDems. The power-sharing agreement was dissolved after the Labour co-leader stood down, allowing the Tories to take over.
The Herald Scotland
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
SNP take over Dumfries and Galloway Council from Tories
It comes after Conservative Gail Macgregor quit as council leader moments before a vote of no confidence on her this afternoon. In a note to council officials, Cllr Macgregor said she had decided to quit with 'the heaviest of hearts.' Seven councillors left the Conservative group to form two separate groups; Novantae and Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group. There are currently 11 SNP councillors with the Conservatives dropping to 9 representatives, just in front of Labour with 8. This could result in the fourth council administration in Dumfries & Galloway in the past three years. Announcing her resignation, councillor MacGregor said: 'It has been an absolute privilege to serve the people of Dumfries and Galloway as Leader of the Council for the past 26 months. 'During this time I have always tried to lead with a collaborative approach, and I will always do so for the good of the people we serve and the services we provide.' An emergency meeting will take place this afternoon in which members are expected to choose a new administration. The Conservative group has led the administration in Dumfries and Galloway over the past two years. It followed the collapse of the rainbow coalition.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Dumfries and Galloway Council considers bid to change leadership
A council is to meet to consider a no confidence motion in its Conservative Tory group has led the administration in Dumfries and Galloway over the past two years since the collapse of a rainbow more than half of the members of the local authority have signed a call for a special meeting to consider the removal of leader Gail Macgregor and deputy leader Malcolm came after seven councillors left the Conservative group to form two separate groups of their own. The events which triggered the meeting started a fortnight Conservatives left to form a new group called Novantae over claims of a "failure to listen" to the west of the three created the Dumfries and Galloway Independent moves left the Conservatives with just nine members from a previous representation of 16 and led to the request for a special Conservative group insisted it was the "only party delivering for people in Wigtownshire" and that would has flagged up "significant investment" in the area under its leadership - including the George Hotel in Stranraer and a watersport leader Ms Macgregor has said she has given her all to the post over the last two years and would love to continue in the role. 'No chance' of SNP-Labour administration Although 22 councillors signed the call for the meeting - 11 SNP, eight Labour and three from the Democratic Alliance - it appears they are unlikely to form a new group leader Archie Dryburgh said that while it had backed the no confidence move there was "no chance" of working with the SNP longer single group has enough councillors to form a working majority on its own and it seems more likely another minority administration will be formed."I'm not sure exactly what will happen, but Monday's meeting will be very interesting," said SNP group leader Stephen Thompson.
Daily Record
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Councillors who quit Dumfries and Galloway Tory group want decisions 'made closer to home'
Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh all resigned from the Tory group over the weekend. Four of the Conservative councillors who quit Dumfries and Galloway Council's administration want vital decisions 'made closer to home'. Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh all resigned from the Tory group over the weekend. They have set up the new Novantae independent group. Councillor Giusti, who will lead the group, said: 'Our decision to leave the Conservative group is driven by a strong desire to pursue a political agenda that is truly reflective of the needs and aspirations of our local communities. 'We were elected to serve our communities, but increasingly we have found that vital decisions affecting our region are being made without sufficient local input. 'We believe that critical decisions impacting our residents are best made closer to home, with direct input from those they affect most.' The decision to quit the Tory group came just days after the Scottish Government announced it would not be progressing with plans for a Galloway National Park as it didn't feel there was enough local support. Earlier this year, Dumfries and Galloway councillors were undecided on the matter. However, at the meeting three of the councillors who have formed the new Novantae group backed a motion that the stance should be 'tend to support'. Councillor Marsh said: The lack of genuine support for the Galloway National Park – an opportunity that could potentially transform our economy, tourism, and environment – is just one example of a broader failure to listen to the west of the region. 'This isn't about political point-scoring; it's about standing up for the people we were elected to represent.' Councillor Hill added they had 'no ill will' towards the Conservatives. A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: 'We wish these councillors well. 'The Scottish Conservatives are the only party delivering for people in Wigtownshire – and that will remain the case. 'Under Scottish Conservative control of the council, we've seen significant investment in the area, including in the George Hotel, the watersport centre, the Marina extension 5G project, the sustainable transport hub, Whithorn and the Wigtown local place plan.'
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Who can lead Dumfries and Galloway Council?
A special meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) is to be held after a number of councillors quit the Conservative group which leads the local authority. It left them with just nine members of the 43-strong council in the south-west of Scotland. Now a request has been received to hold a special full council meeting within the next 14 days. If it leads to a change of control it would be the third administration to try running the authority in the space of three years. More stories from South Scotland Listen to news from Dumfries and Galloway on BBC Sounds The Conservatives previously formed the biggest single political group on the council with 16 members. Seven of them have now left - four to form a group called Novantae and three to create the Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group. It means their numbers have now fallen behind those of the SNP, which has 11. DGC confirmed it had received a call for a special meeting on Tuesday which will have to be held within a fortnight. It could see the current administration replaced after a little more than two years in charge. Following the decision by a number of Conservative councillors to leave the group there are now nine different groupings or individuals on the authority. The SNP has 11 councillors followed by the Conservatives with nine and Labour on eight. Newly-formed Novantae has four, the Democratic Alliance three, Dumfries and Galloway Independents three, Independents three and one each for the Lib Dems and "not-specified". It means that no coalition of just two groups could achieve an outright majority. After elections in May 2022, an alliance was formed between the SNP, Labour, Lib Dems and independents to run the council. They said they hoped to serve the region while working together in the name of "mutual trust and understanding". However, that coalition fell apart after less than a year and the Conservatives took over to lead an administration without an overall majority. Earlier this year they were unable to take forward their own budget plans but remained in control. Now a block of councillors has quit the group - some of them citing concerns about how the west of the region was being represented. It has swiftly been followed by the submission of the request for a special meeting of the council which could pave the way for another change. Four councillors quit Conservatives to form new party However, the other two biggest political groups on the council have already been involved in an administration which folded after less than 12 months in charge. It would take at least three groups - and potentially as many as seven - to form an outright majority. It will also be some time before the composition of the council is likely to change significantly. The next local authority elections are not scheduled until May 2027. The rainbow coalition that fell apart in 280 days
