Skip to content

Majority of councillors back no confidence call

Dumfries and Galloway Council A Labour, SNP and Democratic Alliance councillor on Dumfries and Galloway Council. Labour's Archie Dryburgh on the left has a red tie and dark jacket, grey short hair and a moustache. On the right it the SNP's Stephen Thompson with a beard and spiky hair and an SNP badge on his jacket. In the centre is Willie Scobie of the Democratic Alliance in a blue shirt and grey jacket with grey hair.Dumfries and Galloway Council
All the SNP, Labour and Democratic Alliance councillors signed the call for a special meeting to discuss a no confidence motion in the Conservative-led administration

A majority of councillors in Dumfries and Galloway have backed a move for a no confidence motion in the Conservative-led administration.

A total of 22 members of the 43-strong local authority signed the call, which has triggered a special meeting for 16 June.

The move came after a number of Conservatives left their political group to form a new party.

SNP, Labour and Democratic Alliance councillors have backed the move which could see current leader Gail Macgregor and depute leader Malcolm Johnstone replaced.

The Conservatives formed an administration in 2023 after the collapse of a previous coalition.

They had 16 members but that fell to just nine when seven councillors quit the group - four to form a group called Novantae and three to create the Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group.

As a result a request was lodged to convene a special meeting of the local authority to consider a no confidence vote in the administration.

Under standing orders, the move must be backed by at least a quarter of councillors.

However, papers published on the council website show that support has significantly exceeded that amount.

All 11 SNP members, eight Labour councillors and three from the Democratic Alliance signed the requisition.

If they were to agree to work together in future they could form an outright majority on the council.

The full council will meet to decide the way ahead on Monday.