Latest news with #GailMacgregor
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
SNP take over Dumfries and Galloway Council from Tories
It comes after Conservative Gail Macgregor quit as council leader moments before a vote of no confidence on her this afternoon. In a note to council officials, Cllr Macgregor said she had decided to quit with 'the heaviest of hearts.' Seven councillors left the Conservative group to form two separate groups; Novantae and Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group. There are currently 11 SNP councillors with the Conservatives dropping to 9 representatives, just in front of Labour with 8. This could result in the fourth council administration in Dumfries & Galloway in the past three years. Announcing her resignation, councillor MacGregor said: 'It has been an absolute privilege to serve the people of Dumfries and Galloway as Leader of the Council for the past 26 months. 'During this time I have always tried to lead with a collaborative approach, and I will always do so for the good of the people we serve and the services we provide.' An emergency meeting will take place this afternoon in which members are expected to choose a new administration. The Conservative group has led the administration in Dumfries and Galloway over the past two years. It followed the collapse of the rainbow coalition.
STV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
Dumfries and Galloway leader quits ahead of 'no confidence' vote
The leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council quit less than an hour ahead of a 'no confidence' vote on Monday. In a note to council officials, Tory council leader Gail Macgregor said she had decided to resign as leader with 'the heaviest of hearts'. 'It has been an absolute privilege to serve the people of Dumfries and Galloway as leader of the council for the past 26 months,' she said. 'During this time I have always tried to lead with a collaborative approach, and I will always do so for the good of the people we serve and the services we provide.' A special meeting will take place on Monday afternoon in which members are expected to choose a new administration. The Tory group, with Macgregor at the helm, has led the administration in Dumfries and Galloway over the past two years since the collapse of a Labour/SNP coalition in 2023. However, that is now likely to come to an end on Monday. More than half of the members of the local authority signed a call for a special meeting to 'call for the removal of [Macgregor and deputy leader Malcolm Johnstone] with a motion of no confidence'. It has signatures from 22 local councillors, and it comes two weeks after seven Tory councillors left the Conservative group to form two separate groups of their own. It has left the Conservatives with just nine remaining councillors – down from a previous group of 16 – and it prompted other parties to request the meeting. However, before councillors got the chance to consider the motion to remove Councillor MacGregor from her post, she resigned from the role voluntarily. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
SNP take control of Dumfries and Galloway council after Tory leader
Councillors attended a special full meeting of the council in Dumfries on Monday and were due to vote on the leadership of Tory councillor Gail Macgregor, who has led the council since 2023. SNP members on the local authority had called the vote of no confidence on June 3 in a bid to remove the Tory leadership. They were supported by councillors from Scottish Labour, Democratic Alliance and one independent. McGregor announced her intention to stand down in a note to officials on Monday morning ahead of the crunch vote. READ MORE: UK must 'constrain Israel' after attacks on Iran, John Swinney says The SNP's slate to take over the administration passed with 16 votes in favour of the motion. A bid to install former Tory councillor, now independent, Ian Carruthers as leader with the SNP group leader Stephen Thompson as deputy, failed after only gathering 10 votes. A total of 16 councillors abstained. Writing on Facebook, Dumfries and Galloway SNP council group confirmed they had taken over the administration. "Tories out: Following a special meeting, the SNP have successfully won a vote to run Dumfries and Galloway Council and deliver on our progressive SNP budget and priorities. "We're committed to delivering for the people of our region." SNP councillor Katie Hagmann served as interim chair during the meeting while the vote took place. (Image: Dumfries and Galloway Council) The crunch vote was called after seven Tory councillors quit the party on June 2 over a row over the direction of the administration, which was left with only nine members. The SNP became the largest group with 11 councillors. Councillors Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh formed a new group called Novantae. Carruthers, Karen Carruthers and Andrew Wood formed a separate independent group. In a note to council officials, Macgregor said with 'the heaviest of hearts' she had decided to quit. 'It has been an absolute privilege to serve the people of Dumfries and Galloway as Leader of the Council for the past 26 months,' she said. 'During this time I have always tried to lead with a collaborative approach, and I will always do so for the good of the people we serve and the services we provide.' More to follow…
ITV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Dumfries and Galloway Council leader steps down ahead of no confidence vote
The leader of Dumfries and Galloway council has stepped down less than an hour before she was due to face a no confidence vote. Conservative councillor Gail Macgregor has led the council since 2023. In a note to council officials, Cllr Macgregor said she had decided to quit with 'the heaviest of hearts.' She said: 'It has been an absolute privilege to serve the people of Dumfries and Galloway as Leader of the Council for the past 26 months. 'During this time I have always tried to lead with a collaborative approach, and I will always do so for the good of the people we serve and the services we provide.' A special meeting will take place this afternoon in which members are expected to choose a new administration.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Dumfries and Galloway Council considers bid to change leadership
A council is to meet to consider a no confidence motion in its Conservative Tory group has led the administration in Dumfries and Galloway over the past two years since the collapse of a rainbow more than half of the members of the local authority have signed a call for a special meeting to consider the removal of leader Gail Macgregor and deputy leader Malcolm came after seven councillors left the Conservative group to form two separate groups of their own. The events which triggered the meeting started a fortnight Conservatives left to form a new group called Novantae over claims of a "failure to listen" to the west of the three created the Dumfries and Galloway Independent moves left the Conservatives with just nine members from a previous representation of 16 and led to the request for a special Conservative group insisted it was the "only party delivering for people in Wigtownshire" and that would has flagged up "significant investment" in the area under its leadership - including the George Hotel in Stranraer and a watersport leader Ms Macgregor has said she has given her all to the post over the last two years and would love to continue in the role. 'No chance' of SNP-Labour administration Although 22 councillors signed the call for the meeting - 11 SNP, eight Labour and three from the Democratic Alliance - it appears they are unlikely to form a new group leader Archie Dryburgh said that while it had backed the no confidence move there was "no chance" of working with the SNP longer single group has enough councillors to form a working majority on its own and it seems more likely another minority administration will be formed."I'm not sure exactly what will happen, but Monday's meeting will be very interesting," said SNP group leader Stephen Thompson.
