Monday, June 22, 2009

No change in Aberdeen?

I see that the Lib-Dem Leader of the Aberdeen Administration has been forced out of office this evening ... not certain that it will really make that much difference?

I suspect that any 'real' difference will actually be made in 2012 when the next Local Government Elections come around ...

4 comments:

Will said...

This will either go in two very different directions: Kate Dean led the LD/Con Coalition between 2003 and 2007 IIRC, so her ejection creates a final break with that past, so ending a fundamental tension in the ACC Coalition: the SNP cited past financial mistakes by previous administrations for the Council's recent plight, while Kate Dean headed one of those previous administrations.

On the other hand, Aberdeen Labour have a new Leader as well, and the LibDems + Labour have a majority on the Council. This could represent a total change of direction in the LDs and a partial change of administration.

I reckon, therefore, that we'll see either a subtle change in the way the Coalition parties react to each other, or a major change in who the Coalition parties are.

One other thing, if the second one is right, Labour would be the LibDems' third Coalition partner in Aberdeen in as many years. That's perhaps a less than encouraging sign for all concerned...

MekQuarrie said...

It makes a difference to confidence Mr Burns. The voters have a short fuse when it comes to to-ing and fro-ing for party gain. Coalition politics should be alive and thriving in Scotland. Instability in administrations does not look great...

Andrew said...

Will

Thanks for the comment - and further analysis.

Being partisan for a second, I'd obviously like to see a change in the make-up of the Coalition but I'm not sure that what happened last night will lead to that.

As you say though - definitely worth watching ...

Andrew

Andrew said...

MekQuarrie

Thanks for the comment - actually, as a long-term supporter of STV-PR (and the use of proportional systems generally) I do agree with your point about stability.

I'm not sure that what happened last night will lead to a change in the Aberdeen Coalition, but perhaps I'm missing a local angle from down here in Edinburgh?

Andrew