Aberdeenshire Council’s Conservative group has ruled out any coalition deal with the SNP, ahead of this week’s local government elections.
No political group in the north-east has put forward enough candidates to win an overall majority in the chamber at Woodhill House and a coalition administration is inevitable.
The local authority is currently governed by an SNP-Labour coalition, and the previous Alliance administration was made up of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and independents.
But Tory group leader Jim Gifford argued the SNP group sank to “blatant politicisation” of the council during heated exchanges in the chamber on Thursday morning.
Mr Gifford and his colleagues insisted they will look elsewhere for partners after May 4.
Mr Gifford, councillor for Mid-Formartine, said: “Up until now, I have kept an open mind on who we could work with in forming a new administration for Aberdeenshire.
“When we formed the last Alliance group in 2012, with the Liberal Democrats and some independents, we did so with the sole intention of putting together what we thought was the most stable administration possible.
“We parked politics at the door and formed an administration that would deliver for everyone in Aberdeenshire – and I think we did that.”
Aberdeenshire Council met for the final time on Thursday to approve new rules for community councils, and to discuss two major planning applications.
But before those items were discussed, notices of motion were raised by the SNP about pension legislation and the controversial “rape clause” in the Conservative government’s new child tax credit system.
Mr Gifford added: “What we saw on Thursday was the blatant politicisation of our council chamber in advance of two elections and we will not work with people who are willing to do that for narrow political advantage.”
Last night SNP group leader Richard Thomson said politicians complaining about other being political is “always ludicrous”.
The co-leader of the authority added: “Last Thursday’s debates on pensions and the rape clause saw a clear dividing line emerge in Aberdeenshire politics – with the Tories on one side and everybody else on the other.
“It’s now clear that there is progressive majority in Aberdeenshire – the SNP is willing to work with anyone who wishes to give effect to that after next Thursday.”