THE balance of power in North Ayrshire hangs by a thread as Labour and the SNP both look to grasp minority control of Cunninghame House.

Thursday’s elections followed by Friday’s count saw nobody coming out with an overall majority with both Labour and the SNP returning 11 councillors, the Conservatives jumping from just one councillor in 2012 to seven in 2017. The final four of the 33 elected councillors are independents.

Over half of those who will serve the area, 18 in total, are new councillors with 16 returning for another term.

And the SNP lead the way in terms of gender balance with seven females out of their 11 councillors, the Conservatives have two from seven and Labour have just Louise McPhater from their crop of 11.

But it will be next week before we learn who will take control of the council after Labour rejected the offer of a coalition from the SNP.

Commenting on the composition of North Ayrshire Council following last Thursday’s election results and speculation over coalition deals, North Ayrshire Labour Leader Joe Cullinane said: “Before last Thursday’s election, North Ayrshire Labour were written off. Commentators and experts, such as Professor John Curtice, had the SNP waltzing back into Cunninghame House with a stonking big majority.

“North Ayrshire Labour has defied the odds – we’ve fought back and we stand today tied with the SNP having picked up the same number of Councillors as we did in 2012.

“Out strong performance is firmly rooted in our Labour values and a campaign that spoke to people about local issues, not constitutional ones.

“Eight months ago we were told that the SNP had made a political masterstroke by resigning. The plan, which the SNP Group told other Councillors about, was to have Labour take the blame for cuts and then the SNP would regain power. It backfired.

“Not only did we set an anti-austerity budget, which stopped the cuts and delivered an additional £12.3m of investment, but our record in administration was one to be proud of. Increased council house building, solar panels on council homes to tackle fuel poverty, Living Wage Accreditation, reinstating investment in schools cut by the SNP. It was all achieved through strong political leadership and a commitment to social justice.

“We now stand at a cross roads with the council hung and no single largest party. It is once again a time for political leadership.

“North Ayrshire Labour will do no deals with any party that have imposed austerity on our communities. Our intention is therefore to form a new minority Labour administration.

“For the last eight months we have been a minority administration with one councillor more than the SNP. Whilst this council is even more split than the last, we showed during those eight months that we can make minority administration work.

“Next Wednesday we hope to have a Labour led authority that will continue to stand up for the interests of North Ayrshire by protecting our public services and delivering change.”

The SNP have said that they will now seek to form a minority and stated that they were the only party to have returned councillors in every ward across the authority.

SNP Group leader, Councillor Marie Burns, said: “If there is going to be a minority administration here in North Ayrshire then it is clear that the SNP has both the mandate, and the support locally, to form that administration. It is also worth remembering that in most wards Labour candidates were only elected after receiving substantial support from Tory transfers. If Labour leader Joe Cullinane thinks that being elected courtesy of local Tories represents a mandate for Labour then he is sadly mistaken.”

The SNP group had initially considered going ahead alone. However there was a strong feeling that the very best outcome for North Ayrshire would be the formation of a progressive alliance within the council and for that reason they offered coalition talks with Labour.

Councillor Burns continued: “A coalition of parties would have provided a solid, stable and progressive alliance at the heart of the council and would have made use of much of the available talents within the council group to build on our successes.

“It is very sad that Labour’s continuing obsession with attacking the SNP over the constitution, something that is not within the council’s remit, blinds them to doing the very best for local people. This decision by Labour is disappointing not just for us but for all of the people of North Ayrshire.

“As the group receiving the largest share of the vote across North Ayrshire the SNP will therefore seek to establish a minority administration at the forthcoming council meeting. Whatever the outcome, we will continue to do our best for ALL of the people of North Ayrshire.”