Labour has secured enough support to form a new minority administration on Inverclyde Council when the first meeting of councillors is held this week.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, Labour group leader, is set to be elected as leader of the council for an unprecedented fifth time.

Labour won nine of the 22 places on the council in the recent election, with the SNP close behind with eight councillors. There are three independent councillors and two Conservatives.

Councillor McCabe told Inverclyde Now: “I am delighted that after a week of discussions and negotiations with the other groups on the council I have been able to secure sufficient cross-group support for Inverclyde Labour to lead the next administration.

“We have adopted an inclusive approach to ensure that all groups and individual councillors will have important roles in the new council.”

He continued: “As part of a formal agreement with the Independent Coalition, Inverclyde Labour will support the nomination of Councillor Drew McKenzie as Inverclyde’s next provost.

“This is the first time in the life of Inverclyde Council that the Provost has come from a group other than Labour or the Liberal Democrats.

“I look forward to working with Drew if our respective appointments are formally confirmed by the council on Thursday.”

The full list of appointments to be made will be tabled at Thursday’s meeting.

Councillor McCabe added: “I would like to thank all of the groups within the council for the positive and constructive dialogue we have had over the past week.

“I hope it establishes the tone for the next five years and that we continue to work in a collegial way on behalf of the people of Inverclyde to address the significant challenges we will face over this period.”

This article and image appeared in Inverclyde Now.