A Conservative politician has claimed the public only need to look to Aberdeen City Council to see why Labour should never be handed the keys to Downing Street.
Ross Thomson – a member of the Labour-led administration that controls the local authority – branded his colleagues “chaotic”.
The Hazlehead, Ashley, Queens Cross councillor, who hopes to be the next MP for Aberdeen South, made the remarks at the Scottish Conservative Party’s spring conference in Edinburgh yesterday.
Willie Young, Labour’s finance committee convener, dismissed the criticism and insisted there was no infighting within his party.
Asked what his message to voters would be, Mr Thomson said: “I will be telling constituents that the Conservatives have been delivering for them in Aberdeen South at Westminster and also on the council.
“Many of you will have heard of Labour on the city council – they are chaotic.
“And they are an example of why Labour should never get into Downing Street.
“The Conservatives have proven they can deliver at council, we have invested in infrastructure, education, broadband and changing Aberdeen for the better.
“That is the Conservatives, not the Labour party.”
Speaking after the session, Mr Thomson said local people he had spoke to wanted councillors to “grow up and start working together” for the good of the city.
“I have been going round the doors speaking to people and there is genuine fatigue there – people have lost faith in Labour.
“The only reason you see stability in the administration group is because of the Conservatives – we have been a positive, restraining influence.”
Mr Young, a Bridge of Don councillor, said: “Ross Thomson was speaking at a Conservative conference to a select audience.”
“However, we have had a cordial relationship with our Conservative colleagues for the last three years and we have managed to make sure there has been no budget cuts.
“Labour has managed to keep all 17 of its councillors unlike the Conservatives who have gone down from three to two.
“The public will decide for themselves whether there is infighting but there has not been any within Labour.”