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Labour in charge after two-week power struggle

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Published Date: 19 May 2007
A LABOUR administration is to run Midlothian Council after negotiations were finally completed with other parties.
The identity of the figures who will lead the authority have been revealed two weeks after the council elections.

After frantic negotiations with other council parties, Labour has chosen Councillor Derek Milligan as its leader, meaning that he be
comes the new council leader, with Jim Muirhead as his deputy.

Previous leader Adam Montgomery, who earlier this week announced he was stepping down from the role he has held for four years, becomes the region's new provost, replacing Sam Campbell, who held the title since 1999.

Cllr Milligan, who was previously the council's commercial services leader, said: "It is a great honour to lead Midlothian Council over the next four years. Midlothian Council has always punched above its weight - we were the first council this millennium to build council houses, although others now follow.

"But there is more to do and we have to work hard and well -working together for the benefit of the residents we represent."

Cllr Montgomery added: "I am committed to working with all members of the council to the benefit of the residents of Midlothian. I believe all councillors are working towards the same goals and while difficulties will arise the challenge is to work through them and find a way to take Midlothian forward."

The other members of the all-Labour cabinet will be Jack Aitchison, Alex Bennet, Peter Boyes, Wilma Chalmers and Russel Imrie, although titles have not yet been decided.



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 19 May 2007 10:16 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Holyrood Elections
 
1

John Sutherland,

Edinburgh 19/05/2007 13:48:55

I wouldn't like to be living in Midlothian just now and having to face another four years of more of the same from New Labour.

I can only feel sorry for those people who live there.

2

Yada,

19/05/2007 14:03:21

Just what the ***k would you know about it, John?
And this article is a typical piece of EN hype. "Power struggle" my backside. The meeting was held when it was always planned to be held and most people knew who the Leader was a week ago. The only blood that was spilt was in the SNP group. It took them seven hours to pick a group leader, as if it made a stuff of a difference.

3

Jim P,

Too dangerous for Harry 19/05/2007 14:13:24

#1. JS. You think that bad? Look at the stitch-up in Kirkintilloch. Strange sounds were heard coming fae Kier Hardie's grave last night.

"Ms Geekie, the Labour group leader, formed a controversial two-party minority administration with the Tories on Thursday night to keep out the SNP, the party with the largest number of councillors.

It is the first such two-party coalition in living memory between the traditionally bitter ideological rivals."

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1411270....

4

me150,

19/05/2007 14:58:59

Anything that keeps the nose pickers out is good news.

5

John Sutherland,

Alex Salmond For President 19/05/2007 15:57:20

#2, #4

A@*£#oles like you should are a complete waste of space and should be shot at birth!!

Scottish Independence, here we come!!

6

Peter Cherbi,

Edinburgh 19/05/2007 16:26:44

ah, the report on Scottish Borders Council was much more entertaining .. the Councillors down there were up to pushing each other off chairs !
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=756552007

7

Comeuppance,

The Shaddows 19/05/2007 16:34:16

no 2 - you are an SNP plant. Everyone knows that there is absolutely no ability or intelligence in thre new Cabinet except for Muirhead who is head and shoulders above everyone else. Chalmers and Aitchison are embarrassing. Boyes never turns up and earns nothing.... and Montgomery for Provost - what a hoot. The man has no ounce of compassion and will have to kiss babies and shake hands of real old people. It's going from bad to worse.
The sooner Midlothian is got rid of the better.

8

John Sutherland,

Edinburgh 19/05/2007 16:37:56

#7

Read comment #5 above and add yourself to that list.

9

Conan,

Here 19/05/2007 17:31:08

Excellent - Ok you Midlothian voters and taxpayers, form a line from Soutra to Crammond, bend over, drop yer keks, hold you ankles and they'll get to you in due course. Your going to LUV what you voted for ..... again.

10

K.Y,

Edinburgh 19/05/2007 20:06:01

Exactly- they voted for new schools and local authority houses.

Not the sort of thing to get the SNP web-drones interested though, is it?

11

John Sutherland,

Edinburgh 19/05/2007 21:01:59

#10

Read comment #5 above and add yourself to that list.

12

Scotland Forever,

Midlothian 19/05/2007 22:32:38

Labour in Midlothian has now serious opposition. It will be no more 2 minute meetings and a rubber stamp job. The new SNP group will be able to investigate, analyse and oppose Labour proposals. I think it is called democracy, for the first time in years we will see changes to our county and it will be no more one party Labour state. We will see clear changes in the direction of the council in the coming years and months.

13

,

20/05/2007 00:03:04
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
14

me150,

20/05/2007 00:22:55

Aah....I always thought the SNP voters were a bit wanting....now we see that they really do resort to personal insults against people who do not agree with them....now there is a word for that!!!!!!!!!

15

BW2,

Everywhere 20/05/2007 02:09:09

Very misleading headline

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WhJUjhequ4

16

John Sutherland,

Edinburgh 20/05/2007 08:35:03

#14

That's because New Labour are a bunch of w@*$ers.

The following link shows what New Labour did for us here in Edinburgh:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miko9rcRhX4

Because of that, we at least showed more common sense by voting to get rid of New Labour from our City Chambers once and for all.

I didn't know if the unliberal and undemocratic "Fib-Dems" will be much better. However, they were at least sensible enough to allow the SNP a share of power as part of the ruling coalition, and that will only be good for Edinburgh.

Too often, Unionists parties within local councils gang up to keep the SNP out because of their national stance on independence, but these people forgot that nobody can achieve independence for Scotland at local council level and so, the issue of Scottish Independence is an irrelevent one in council elections.

What is more important is what each party within each council can deliver for the people who live within the particular area that, that particular council is serving.

As an example, there were recently a number of people from Penicuik phoning up the Forth 2 phone-in to complain about the lack of youth facilities in that area and so, that is NOT exactly a good inditement of New Labour in Midlothian.

Therefore, I wouldn't be looking forward to the next four years in Midlothian under New Labour because after that time, there will be nothing left there.

17

me150,

20/05/2007 09:10:15

At least the SNP will be gone quite soon..something to look forward to.

18

John Sutherland,

Edinburgh 20/05/2007 10:00:48

#18

I'll agree to disagree on that one.

19

George Coutts,

The Republic of Iceland 20/05/2007 16:06:28

That seems to be the latest style of back stabbing style Scottish politics of two bitter rivals.
Bad taste was the colusion previously with Lib/Lab pact.
But this one really reeks.
Amagine if the Tory's joined forces with Labour in England, the future would be no need to vote, just hold a lottery style event for winners.
You could call it FAVOURITE by SELF ELECTING.
Paradise politics I presume Homes!!!

George Coutts

20

Justice for the people,

Midlothian 21/05/2007 08:16:47

Here we go again the same old labour boys in charge again and more council tax rises in the future.

I am puzzeled at Montgomery becoming provost as only last week he claimed he was standing down as leader because of presure and now he's taken a post with added presure? jobs for the boy's I think.

Montgomery's expenses will go through the roof and we will be paying more concil tax to cover the trips abroad for this mavrick as if he was made of chocolate he would eat himself as he love's himself.

remember this was the same person who said he could not work with the SNP councillors and accused them of dirty trick's during the election so how can he work with them now he is provost? double standards Mr Montgomery you should resign now and hang your head in shame as the people of Midlothain do not want you as there provost.


 

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