The SNP and Liberal Democrats look poised to go into a ruling partnership on Aberdeen City Council – as the only parties left negotiating.
Talks continue as the two groups look to bash out an agreement before Wednesday’s full council meeting.
Meanwhile, former Labour and Conservatives coalition colleagues are turning on each other, with both seemingly resigned to five years in opposition.
Sources within the previous administration have hit out at “farcical” national politics forcing Aberdeen Labour to “throw the city” to the SNP.
The Scottish National Party increased their share of council seats to 20 at this month’s election.
And after five years of ever closer working with the Liberal Democrats, they also look in pole position to strike a deal to secure their four seats.
A combined SNP/Lib Dem coalition would command a one-councillor majority.
The deal was expected to be announced before tomorrow’s full council meeting, where key roles such as lord provost and leader will be agreed.
The Conservatives and Labour have both spent the last week in talks with other group leaders and independents to try and maintain control.
However, Tory group leader Ryan Houghton tweeted what looks like a concession this morning – placing the blame squarely on Labour.
Looks like the SNP & Lib Dem deal is done to form an Administration in @AberdeenCC tomorrow.
Attempts to form an Admin with us, Labour & Lib Dems unsuccessful due to Labour's national ban on formal partnerships. This gave the Lib Dems the out needed to do a deal with the SNP.
— Ryan Houghton (@Ryan_Aberdeen) May 17, 2022
The Airyhall, Broomhill and Garthdee councillor wrote: “(It) looks like the SNP and Lib Dem deal is done to form an administration in on Aberdeen City Council tomorrow.
“Attempts to form an administration with us, Labour and Lib Dems (were) unsuccessful due to Labour’s national ban on formal partnerships.
“This gave the Lib Dems the out needed to do a deal with the SNP.”
Former coalition bedfellows now at loggerheads over future of Aberdeen City Council
It comes as sources from within the previous Labour-led rainbow coalition hit out at a command from on high which blocks Aberdeen Labour from formalising coalitions.
Describing the situation as a “farce”, one councillor hit out at the Labour leadership who asked for votes – but would not put any power-sharing arrangement in writing.
“Aberdeen Labour will rightly excoriated by those who voted for Labour policies only to watch councillors sit on our hands.
“It is truly shocking,” they told The P&J.
It is understood Aberdeen Labour group meetings over the past week have been long and fiery affairs.
But an old guard is understood to be keen to do more to try to remain in power, desperate not to “throw the city to the SNP”.
Mrs Macdonald is believed to be the only member of the infamous Aberdeen Nine to vote against the coalition with Conservatives in 2017.
Regardless, she and her party colleagues were exiled for the deal for nearly five years having defied party bosses.
This time around, sources say she has made it clear that is not an option up for discussion.
Labour boss claims coalition talks broke down over free bus pledge
But Mrs Macdonald rejected that it was Labour’s reluctance to formalise a coalition that had stilted talks.
“We have reached out to reach agreements with other parties but the overriding reason as to why is the reality that the SNP and Lib Dems have been bedfellows for five years.
“We will go into tomorrow’s meeting willing to work with anyone.
“But nobody wants to take on our bus pledge. The ‘no compulsory redundancies’ pledge were less troublesome for them.
“We will go into tomorrow proposing a Labour minority administration. But we will always do what is best for Aberdeen and I have spoken to all group leaders.
“My view is that there will be a deal on the table. My suspicion is that there will be a programme of government between the SNP and Lib Dems.”