Tony Blair’s former spin doctor has reinforced his support for nine suspended Labour councillors by meeting up with them on a trip to Aberdeen.
And Alastair Campbell described the position they have been placed in by party chiefs is “frankly ridiculous”.
Speaking after watching his favourite football club Burnley clash with Aberdeen FC at Pittodrie on Thursday night, Mr Campbell stressed that the suspended councillors had stuck to their Labour values.
The nine members of the local group were suspended after last year’s council elections, for forming a ruling coalition with the city’s Conservatives.
The Scottish Executive Committee of the party chose to refer a decision on their fate to the UK-wide National Executive Committee, which met earlier this month to find a solution.
But instead, the NEC referred the final say to the National Constitutional Committee – and it is understood a final decision on their future with the party is now months away.
Mr Campbell said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Aberdeen for the first leg of Burnley’s Europa League tie, even if the result was not quite what everyone was expecting.
“But I also took time to meet some of the Aberdeen Nine, and give them my support.
“Lord Provost Barney Crockett took time out to meet hundreds of Burnley fans and show why he is such a popular leadership figure in the city.
“It is frankly ridiculous that he and his eight colleagues who do so much good for Aberdeen find themselves in the position they are in.
“We live in a democracy, which sometimes means coalitions at national and local level.
“The question for Labour in Aberdeen, and nationally, is whether the council is delivering on its agenda.
“It is, and Aberdeen is a better place as a result.”
Mr Campbell it had appeared to some people as if the councillors were being punished for their decision.
He added: “The failure of Labour’s Scottish executive to back the Aberdeen Nine in delivering Labour policies in such a dynamic and successful city is hard to understand.
“It has been said they are being punished for doing a deal with Tory councillors instead of the SNP, but surely the tests set for any coalition by the Labour Party are about what it delivers, not who it is with.”
SNP councillor Jackie Dunbar said: “I’m sure the people of Aberdeen will just want to see this concluded so they can find out if they have Labour or independent councillors.
“Most soap operas don’t drag out their storylines this long.”