Nicola Sturgeon's mother quits as North Ayrshire Provost after SNP loses seat
Nicola Sturgeon's mother has quit as provost of North Ayrshire Council as the authority's SNP group resigned control of the administration.
Nicola Sturgeon's mother has quit as provost of North Ayrshire Council as the authority's SNP group resigned control of the administration.
Joan Sturgeon's decision to step down comes after the First Minister's father Robin failed to be elected as a councillor last week.
Labour's Louise McPhater won the Irvine West by-election on Thursday sparked by SNP councillor Ruth Maguire's election as an MSP.
The win gave the Labour group more elected members than the SNP by 12 to 11. The remaining seven councillors are six independents and one Conservative.
In a statement, the SNP group said: “Given that the SNP group no longer command the largest representation on the council, it is only right that Labour be given the opportunity to form the next administration of the council.
“Accordingly, the SNP group has taken the difficult decision to resign from administration to allow Labour the opportunity to form an administration.
“In order to ensure the smooth running of the council, this resignation will not take place until a new administration can be identified and put in place at the next meeting of the full council.”
Joan Sturgeon said: “With the change in representation on the council it is clear to me that I should allow a complete reset of the council administration, including resigning my own position.
“While the post of provost is non-political it is elected at the start of every council term and it seems clear to me that I should allow that election to take place in tandem with the democratic election of the new administration.
“It has been one of the greatest honours of my life to serve the people of North Ayrshire and I thank them for giving me the opportunity to do so.”
Council leader Willie Gibson said: “I am personally hugely disappointed in this change. Since the SNP took control of a failing council in 2012 we have taken huge strides in creating better services for North Ayrshire.
“In the end, however, the democratic will of the people must be paramount.”
A North Ayrshire Council spokesman said: “We will hold a special council meeting on Tuesday August 30 at 2pm.
“The purpose of the meeting will be to consider the resignation of the current administration and to make arrangements for a new council to be formed.
“The meeting has been called in response to a request from eight members of the council.”