Scottish Labour bosses have barred a second council group from doing a deal with the Tories after a “civil war” erupted between party chiefs and local councillors.
Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, suspended her party’s nine councillors in Aberdeen after they defied the wishes of the ruling Scottish Executive Committee (SEC) and went into administration with Conservatives in the city.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley said the SEC had also rejected a possible coalition with the Tories in West Lothian.
He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme the Labour group on the council there “have put forward proposals that have been refused by the Scottish Executive Committee, so there will be no deal with the Tories in West Lothian”.
Mr Rowley said Labour had been clear “no power-sharing arrangements would be agreed where it would mean increased austerity that will impact on communities, in particular the poorest communities up and down Scotland”.
