The fate of nine suspended Aberdeen Labour councillors will now be decided by UK party chiefs on July 3, and their Scottish colleagues have advised they should be expelled.
The party’s nine councillors were dramatically suspended after last year’s local elections for forming an administration with the Conservatives against the will of then leader Kezia Dugdale.
Aberdeen Labour submitted a revised coalition proposal but the power-sharing plan was dismissed by the powerful Scottish Executive Committee (SEC) over the weekend.
The SEC has now recommended that the councillors should be referred to the UK party’s National Constitutional Committee (NCC) to have their membership reviewed.
A party source told the Press and Journal that the SEC have advised that they be expelled from representing the party.
That body will make the final decision on the future of the councillors within the wider Labour party on July 3.
The city Labour group, which has a collective membership spanning many decades, would have to finance their own election campaigns if they are expelled.
Since the suspension the group of nine have gone under the name Aberdeen Labour.
Cathy Peattie, chair of the SEC, said: “We cannot endorse this deal and, following a year’s suspension, we are now left with no choice but to recommend the referral of the group to the body of the party that will consider their exclusion.
“On behalf of the Scottish Labour Party I would like to put on record my thanks to the group for their work to the Labour Party over many years and express our regret that they chose to jeopardise their membership of the party by doing an unauthorised deal with another political group and independent councillors.”
Council co-leader Jenny Laing, one of the suspended councillors, said: “I am deeply disappointed by the decision of the Scottish Executive Committee given that I and others have been members of the Labour Party for over 20 years.
“The nine councillors affected by this decision met today as a group and I can confirm we will remain in administration with our current coalition partners.
“I am calling on the NCC to set aside that recommendation and to fully support Aberdeen Labour councillors in seeking to deliver for the people of Aberdeen.”
SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said: “This news should come as no surprise to the suspended nine given their decision to help the Tories push through cuts to vital council services.
“My door will continue to be open to anyone who wants to talk about positive routes forward for our city, and how the council can better put the people of Aberdeen first.”
