Green Councillor to Support SNP-led Administration in Midlothian

Midlothian's Green Councillor Ian Baxter has announced his support for the setting up of the first ever non-Labour administration on Midlothian Council. After meeting with SNP Group leader Lisa Beattie, Cllr Baxter declined to join a formal coalition with the SNP, but having received assurances on a number of common concerns and priority areas for the Greens, agreed to support a handover of power from the Labour Party to the SNP.

Cllr Baxter said, "Last Thursday, the voters of Midlothian sent a clear message that they wanted change. I think Midlothian will benefit from a change in administration and hope that with the council now finely balanced, a more consensual approach to politics will result". Cllr Baxter continued, "I have asked the SNP group to look at areas which have been neglected in the past, like encouraging Active and Sustainable Travel as well as progressing common areas of policy like the provision of community based renewable energy, bringing empty housing back into use and road safety issues which concern us all".