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Labour advocates “political independence” in politics 10/12/11
The Western Isles Constituency Labour Party has warned that the SNP's bid to take control of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar would create "single party domination" and deprive the islands of leadership in resisting government cuts and other unwelcome measures.
Local party secretary Donald Lamont said: "The SNP are creating a real hazard for the Western Isles by seeking to remove the political independence of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar at exactly the time we need a council that fights to limit the damage of public spending cuts and other decisions made in Edinburgh.
"On issue after issue affecting the Western Isles, SNP representatives have demonstrated that they will always toe the party line rather than stand up for the local interest. If Comhairle nan Eilean Siar was to be run on the same basis, then we really would be in for a very damaging period of single party domination."
Mr Lamont quoted the example of the proposed rocket range closure in Uist where Comhairle nan Eilean Siar led the successful campaign to save jobs.
Mr Lamont recalled: "It was left to the Comhairle to argue the case and lobby Government while the MP only sought to make political capital. If the Comhairle had been under SNP control, there would not have been the slightest chance of them breaking ranks and going straight to ministers."
In a more recent example, said Mr Lamont, SNP representatives had been "totally silent"
on the run-
He said: "On crucial issues like these, it has been left to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to make the running and argue the case in Edinburgh and elsewhere. A council run by the SNP would simply close ranks behind anything that was handed down from Edinburgh.
"As the Scottish Government continues to squeeze local authorities and slash the
HIE budget, we are going to need strong voices whose first priority is the well-