Shock Aberdeen council resignation could spark power struggle for SNP and Lib Dem bosses

Liberal Democrat Desmond Buchanan has announced he will resign as George Street and Harbour councillor on April 2.

The Press and Journal broke to news to some of his flabbergasted administration colleagues.

A date for the poll to name his replacement is yet to be confirmed by Aberdeen City Council.

But his resignation could spell trouble for the SNP and Lib Dems running the council in coalition.

This seat is the difference in whether their last year before the local election in 2027 is spent fighting to win votes as a minority administration.

SNP and Lib Dem council chiefs have already endured one spell without a majority this term.

Councillor Kairin van Sweeden exiled herself from the SNP until she was cleared of allegations she had made a racist jibe at the Labour benches in the chamber.

This by-election will come as Labour and the Conservatives already look to be lining up more closely on key policy areas, such as the next wave of beachfront regeneration and the potential for a new Aberdeen football stadium there.

Insiders suggest that could be to enable easier coalition talks, should the opportunity to overthrow the SNP and lead the council arise after next year’s local election.

Is Desmond Buchanan eyeing higher office after Aberdeen council stint?

The P&J revealed Mr Buchanan was standing in May’s Holyrood election in Ayr – some four hours away from his Aberdeen ward.

He became the first Liberal Democrat to represent George Street/Harbour since 2007.

But now living in Edinburgh and spending time in Ayrshire for work, insiders told us he was rarely seen at Aberdeen Town House.

In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Mr Buchanan said: “It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve the people of George Street and Harbour on Aberdeen City Council.”

His Lib Dem council co-leader Ian Yuill added Mr Buchanan’s departure would be a “genuinely sad loss” for the city.

“There are not a lot of young people in the council and we are losing the youngest voice, I think,” he added.

“He has a new job and has changed his base, so he is doing what he believes is right for him and for his George Street/Harbour constituents – and we absolutely understand that.”

‘F*** sake’: Desmond Buchanan’s departure news to Aberdeen council coalition colleagues

One member of the SNP and Lib Dem administration only learned of Mr Buchanan’s resignation when approached on background by The P&J.

“F*** sake,” they said.

We understand the Lib Dems gave the SNP a heads up immediately after Mr Buchanan’s statement was circulated to the press.

But they had warned of the possibility of the decision being taken on Monday some weeks ago.

The SNP has two councillors in George Street/Harbour in Michael Hutchison and Dell Henrickson, who placed first and second in the share of first preference votes in 2022.

Labour’s Sandra Macdonald is the third of the ward’s four council members.

George Street/Harbour predictions not for the faint hearted

However, by-elections are notorious for low voter turnout and might not remain true to form.

And George Street/Harbour had the lowest turnout of any ward in Aberdeen in at least the last three elections, going back to 2012.

In 2015, a by-election in the area brought only 15.6% of voters out.

According to Town House insiders, George Street/Harbour is extra “unpredictable” due to how young its population are.

At the last census, around two thirds of adults were between the ages of 18 and 30.

That spooks council sources, as it might suggest a fast-changing population which, again, is unpredictable ahead of polling day.

Aberdeen City Council has not yet confirmed the date of the by-election.

[Source: Press and Journal]