Conservative candidates across the north-east swept to victory on a “tide of blue” yesterday as the SNP administration was rocked by losses.
Tories topped the polls in all 19 Aberdeenshire Council wards picking up seven new seats to bring their total number of councillors to 23.
The Liberal Democrat group also grew in size from 10 to 14 setting up the possibility of a renewed coalition between the two parties.
In contrast the SNP, the outgoing administration alongside Labour, lost four ward seats and fell to 21 councillors.
None of the groups put forward enough seats to win overall control of the 70-seat chamber at Woodhill House.
Negotiations to thrash out a coalition deal will take place over the next few days, and it is understood both the Conservatives and Liberals are holding group meetings tomorrow.
There were several high-profile casualties across the region including independent Fraserburgh councillor Ian Tait, and Peterhead South’s SNP councillor Stuart Pratt.
Mr Pratt, a council veteran of 28 years, said he had been swept away by a Conservative “blue tide”.
Last night Conservative group leader Jim Gifford, who triumphed in his Mid-Formartine ward, said the SNP have been guilty of “taking their eye off the ball”.
“It is a council election on local issues, with overriding themes like education,” he said. “But the overriding thing was not to do with the council, it was the idea of a second independence referendum.
“People are fed up. The SNP have taken their eye off the ball.”
Mr Gifford said his fellow councillors must now get their “ducks lined up” and strike a coalition deal before the new council’s first meeting on May 18.
Richard Thomson, SNP leader and current co-leader of the council, said although he was “disappointed” to lose colleagues, he was pleased the SNP is still represented in every ward.
“Clearly the Tories have done very well, they’ve fought a local election campaign on anything but local issues and clearly that’s been a successful tactic for them with the results they have,” Councillor Thomson said.
“The SNP group will be meeting very shortly and getting our negotiating team in place and we’ll have a discussion about how we should proceed and I expect all the other groups that have emerged today will be doing exactly the same.
“Over the weekend we’ll be having discussions with like-minded people to see if there is the possibility of forming an administration which involves the SNP.”
He added that the SNP, who have already ruled out a deal with the Conservatives, could play a part in a “coalition of the centre” to keep the Tories out of administration.
The Liberal Democrat group likely will act as power brokers over the coming days. With 14 councillors, the group is large enough to join with either the SNP or the Conservatives to form an administration.
Last night Liberal councillor Peter Argyle said: “It was a very good day for us. We’re meeting tomorrow morning and we will discuss all options. Nothing has been ruled out.
“Our manifesto pledge was to put Aberdeenshire first so that will be our focus.”