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When asked what his preferred method of leading the council would be, Burns said: “It is likely to be a minority or a rainbow arrangement, but I am not ruling out a coalition.”
He added: “There is a myriad of possibilities when you look at the numbers. We are going to take a bit of time over it to make sure that we get it right and don’t end up with the indecision that we have had over the last five years. What we arrive at has got to be clear, precise and deliverable.”
Burns’s hope of leading a minority administration that could reach agreement with rival parties on an issue-by-issue basis has been encouraged by analysis of the manifestos produced by Labour, SNP, the Conservatives, Lib Dems and the Greens, who with six councillors are likely to play a prominent role in negotiations.
“The council officers have done an analysis of the five party manifestos and shock … horror … amazement was that there was complete and total agreement on 75 per cent of the manifesto content across all five parties,” Burns said. With all the parties indicating that they are prepared to talk, there is also the intriguing possibility of a Labour/Tory coalition – the only combination of two parties that would secure an outright majority.
The last bit isn't strictly true - Lab + SNP would be a majority, but is virtually impossible. It's not just because they have different views on Independence (which will have a referendum during the current council term), more about personalities.
The power of the other parties here - especially the Greens - is to decide which of their policies - especially if Labour broadly agrees - is their most important.
Obviously this looks good for walking and cycling.
It would be interesting to get hold of the document that has compared the manifestos - presumably 'public'??
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