Politician takes aim at Renfrewshire Labour leadership after councillor's Reform UK defection
The leadership of Renfrewshire's Labour group could be "in tatters" after it lost a councillor to Nigel Farage's Reform UK, a veteran politician has claimed.
Councillor Andy Doig, an independent, has taken aim at Councillor Iain McMillan and suggested the party is "going backwards" in the chambers under his stewardship.
It comes after it was announced on Monday that Councillor Jamie McGuire, who also used to work in Alison Taylor MP's office, had decided to switch allegiance.
Councillor Doig, who represents Johnstone North and the surrounding villages, said: "I have known Iain McMillan for decades and I like him and respect him as an individual, however, the defection of one of the Labour group's youngest councillors Jamie McGuire to the odious Reform UK really marks Iain out as a lame duck leader.
"Since 2022, Renfrewshire Labour have lost three councillors and now have one less councillor than they had in 2017.
"Under his stewardship Labour in the council chambers are going backwards and that is a concern because it is healthy for local democracy to provide a level of scrutiny and Labour are the main opposition."
Councillor Eddie Devine left Labour in October 2022 and was followed by Councillor John Hood within a month. The pair have continued as independent elected members since.
But Councillor McGuire, who dismissed suggestions from Councillor McMillan he isn't a "team player" on Tuesday, has taken a different path and joined former Conservative councillors Alec Leishman and John Gray at Reform UK.
Councillor Doig added: "Jamie McGuire seemed to me to be somewhat of a protégé of Iain McMillan's. Iain would feed him questions at the economy and regeneration policy board and they shared a joint passion for all things, red, white, and blue.
"However, that relationship is now in tatters and so too may be Councillor McMillan's leadership of the Labour group."
Councillor McMillan, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, was unfazed by the comments and said his party will continue to hold the SNP administration to account.
He added: "Andy has a record of falling out with parties himself and it's quite clear I have the support of the Labour group, having just been unanimously elected as the group leader for the fourth time last week."
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