The coalition which has run Argyll and Bute Council for nine years has been dealt a serious blow.
Conservative Tommy MacPherson (right), who was only elected councillor in May, has left the Argyll, Lomond and Islands Group (TALIG).
After May’s elections the coalition of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and independents had 19 of the council’s 36 seats.
And the group retained control after a by-election in September, which saw former Conservative Alastair Redman win as an independent and join TALIG.
But Cllr MacPherson said this week that he had ‘serious misgivings’ about how TALIG operates.
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Announcing his decision on social media, he said: “I have today given my notice as member of the Argyll and Bute Council administration.
“I have serious misgivings as to the modus operandi of TALIG, therefore I have taken the decision to resign as deputy policy lead for roads and infrastructure and from the TALIG administration group.
“I remain steadfast to my South Kintyre constituents whom I will continue to serve to the best of my ability.”
Council leader Robin Currie has pledged that its administration will continue ‘business as usual’ despite the resignation.
The Liberal Democrat insisted that the administrative group would continue to focus on delivering its priorities, which were recently agreed unanimously by the full council.
He said: “As an administration we will continue our business of leading the council as a group who work well together and who have a shared vision for Argyll and Bute.
“That collective vision is set out in the priorities that this administration developed and which were unanimously agreed by council last month.
“Delivering on that vision has always been, and will remain, our top priority, and getting on with the job at hand is our main focus.”
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