The SNP group leader at Aberdeen City Council is stepping down from her post – but denies she has been pushed out by fellow members.
Jackie Dunbar made the announcement yesterday and confirmed she will remain a councillor, seeking re-election in Northfield and Mastrick North next year.
Having held the leadership since May, she insisted it was the right time to relinquish the position and it was her own decision.
Ms Dunbar said: “As polls look increasingly favourable to the SNP, it is becoming increasingly likely that the SNP leader at the next election will be the next leader of the council and that is not a role I ever aspired to.
“So I have decided that now is the time for me to step down and allow fresh talent to come forward and build their own team to be ready to take on the council leadership after the 2017 elections.”
The SNP group leader told members the news after a full council meeting on Wednesday.
Labour councillor and finance convener Willie Young wondered if Ms Dunbar had been pushed, and believed there were tensions in the group between older and younger members.
He said: “It’s extremely interesting to note that she took through an SNP budget a week ago, then took through the council meeting yesterday and resigned thereafter.
“That would suggest to me that there are real tensions within the SNP group because you don’t allow a leader to take through a budget, followed by a council meeting, and expect her to resign the next day.
“Obviously there have been huge tensions within the group.”
Ms Dunbar said she did not feel it was right to continue as leader of the group if she was not willing to take on the council leadership.
She added: “I do know the group has a lot of talent and that the next leader will take the SNP and Aberdeen forward.”
When asked about tensions in the group, she replied: “I think that’s quite a laughable suggestion, considering Labour’s past history.
“If there were tensions in the group, I would have been outed in May, instead of making my own decision now.”