Tories And Independents Missing In Non Action

Tories and Independents played a crucial roll in the delivery of the Labour budget in Falkirk Council that saw housebound pensioners being targeted by Labour for higher fees for their meals on wheels amongst other cuts in service.

While the local press concentrated on the outcome much more information could be gleamed from the process that saw one Labour Councillor apologise for actually speaking up for his own constituency.

There was laughter in the chamber when non aligned Independent Councillor Robert Spears highlighted the failure of the two Tory Councillors to secure any concessions from Labour by saying “I had hoped we would have had two Goldie’s in the chamber but Malcolm Nicol is no Annabel Goldie”

Despite being repeatedly challenged to make a comment on the budget the two Tory members of the Administration, Malcolm Nicol (Lower Braes) and John Patrick (Falkirk South) sat stony faced and never uttered a word although when the time came they dutifully followed the party line, the Labour Party line that is, and voted for the Labour budget.

Falkirk Council budgets were also the forum in which maverick Independent Billy Buchanan brought forward his policies for Bonnybridge but this year Buchanan along with the other aligned Independent, Alex Waddell (Denny Ward) failed to make a contribution.

SNP Depute Leader, Tom Coleman who also represents Bonnybridge said,

“Because both Buchanan and Waddell owe their positions and additional £7,000 allowances to Labour the so called Independents had no choice but to take the Labour whip even if this meant voting against their own constituents interests.

The spectacle of Billy Buchanan voting against proposals for the regeneration of Bonnybridge and for higher charges on meals on wheels for pensioners was breathtaking.

To do so while keeping his head down and refusing to justify his actions to the council and therefore to his constituents was cowardly.

The onus on holding this unholy alliance to account and properly informing the general public therefore lies with the SNP and that is a task we will undertake with vigour.”