New breakaway group on North Lanarkshire Council
Eight former SNP councillors will form a new opposition group
Eight councillors are launching a new breakaway political party in North Lanarkshire following infighting in the SNP in the wake of the resignation of former council leader Jordan Linden and the collapse of the nationalist administration.
The new grouping is calling itself Progressive Change North Lanarkshire and becomes the second-largest opposition bloc.
They've announced their intention to apply for full Electoral Commission registration as a party.
BACKGROUND: Jordan Linden quits
Putting the people first
The eight members say they share a personal commitment to further serving the people of North Lanarkshire but without the shackles and constraints of traditional political party politics.”
The group is being lead by Cllr Greg Lennon, with Cllr Paul DiMascio as the deputy.
The other founding members are Cllr Beth Baudo; Cllr Gerry Brennan; Cllr David Crichton; Cllr Jim Hume; Cllr Barry McCluskey and Cllr Cameron McManus.
SNP splits
All, except Jim Hume, had been accused of bringing the SNP into disrepute after alleging there was a failure by SNP group leader Tracy Carragher to investigate complaints about Mr Linden.
Earlier this week police confirmed they have begun an investigation into an allegation dating from 2017.
A press release issued by the new party says: “The voice of local people is being sacrificed instead to internal in-fighting and power struggles within the traditionally established Political Groups.”
Leader Greg Lennon said: It is unfortunate that tribal politics has hindered progress on issues that truly matter—the well-being & prosperity of our people.
Unlike our counterparts, we firmly believe in upholding the values that have been regrettably absent in political discourse.”