Council election: Talks ongoing between SNP and Greens over Glasgow

Talks between the SNP and Scottish Greens over the running of Glasgow City Council have been described as “constructive”, with progress being made ahead of councillors meeting next week.

Discussions have been taking place over the forming of an administration after the SNP won 37 seats on the council to remain as the largest party.

Labour secured 36 councillors in last week’s local election, but it is understood that no talks have so far taken place between the party and the Greens over any possible deal.

A meeting of the full council will take place on Thursday, May 19.

Political groups at that point will then submit their nominations for Lord Provost and council leader.

The meeting will also see councillors make agreement on who will be the committee conveners.

In recent years, the Greens have supported the SNP in passing the council’s annual budget.

Following the election, the party indicated that it would always be “up for cooperation”.

However, it is not yet clear whether a deal could take the form of a formal coalition or not.

An SNP spokesman said: “Talks between the SNP and Green leaderships this week have been very constructive and progress has been made towards an administration being proposed and appointed at a meeting of full council.”

Glasgow Labour’s group leader Malcolm Cunning has indicated that a deal between the SNP and Greens is ‘most likely’.

But, he has said that his party may yet be able to reach an agreement with the Greens on issues such as transport and on the environment.