Caithness Councillor Struan Mackie moves over to the Lib Dems in Highland Council
In what is one of the most compelling minor trends in Highland politics, yet another Conservative has joined the Liberal Democrats – this time it is Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Struan Mackie.
Patrick Logue had been a Tory councillor but moved to the Lib Dems and more recently Andrew Baxter was elected as the Lib Dem candidate for Fort William and Ardnamurchan having previously had close ties with the Conservatives.
It is another significant blow for the Scottish Conservatives as Cllr Mackie had been one of the party’s most respected members in the region.
In fact, as recently as July’s general election, if Douglas Ross had won a seat at Westminster then Cllr Mackie would have taken up the vacant Scottish Parliament seat as next in line on the Highland list.
But it appears to be disenchantment with the Tory party as a whole that has led to the departure – something seen elsewhere in Scotland – as Russell Findlay tries to rebuild.
Taken with the recent Lochaber by-election, it means a small change to the political make-up of the council: the administration has exactly half the seats – 37 in all between the SNP (21) and Highland Independent (16).
The opposition parties also have 37 councillors – the Lib Dems (15), Highland Alliance (7), Tories (6) Labour (2) Greens (4), Alba (1) and Non-aligned (3).
This is highly unlikely to see the administration fall as minority leaderships have governed in the past, but there will be a greater need to work consensually across the chamber.
However, the change could be a boost for those who would more naturally vote with the SNP-led administration on some – but far from all – issues such as Alba (1) or the Greens (4).
Votes have been getting closer in recent months and the challenge for the administration is keeping its councillors on board – particularly those within the independent group uncomfortable with the pro-independence stance of many.
