The new leader of the Tory group on Aberdeen City Council claimed yesterday he was confident the SNP would not form the next administration, despite winning last week’s election.
The Nationalists secured more seats than any other party, but fell short of an overall majority.
The SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said it would be a “democratic outrage” if they were not to return to power and that people in the city had spoken clearly.
The Conservatives, who advanced from having three to 11 seats at last week’s election, have appointed Douglas Lumsden of the Airyhall, Broomhill and Garthdee ward as their new leader to replace outgoing MSP Ross Thomson.
And last night he was confident a coalition could be put in place with other groups to deny the SNP power.
He said: “I am delighted to have been appointed leader of the Conservative group on Aberdeen Council.
“It’s great that the other councillors have shown faith in me and it’s a huge privilege.
“Nothing has been agreed yet about the next administration.
“We have been in talks with various groups and there will be further talks this week.
“We are confident of being able to prevent the SNP from forming the next administration.”
The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Independents have a total of 26 councillors, meaning a coalition could keep the Nationalists out of office.
But SNP group leader Stephen Flynn has criticised the possibility of his party, who won 19 seats at the election, being denied the chance to run the city.
He said: “The people of Aberdeen have spoken, and they will expect us to form the next administration.
“It would be a democratic outrage if we were kept out, we got almost double the amount of seats of the nearest group the Conservatives.
“It was a record result in the city, not just for the SNP, but for any political party.
“We have been in talks with other groups and are looking to see what consensus we can find to deliver a strong administration.
“Talks will be continuing this week.”