SNP lambasts Monklands council leaders

The Scottish National Party opposition on Monklands District Council yesterday called on the ruling Labour group to resign following the publication of the Black Report, which uncovered evidence of nepotism and discriminatory spending at the local authority.

At the first full meeting of the council since the independent report by Professor Robert Black was published earlier this week, Neil Douglas, a nationalist councillor, said the Labour group had "tarnished and debauched the Monklands area and devalued local government". The council voted to ask Mr Black to clarify "inaccuracies and unsubstantiated allegations" in his report, but an SNP motion of no confidence in the council was defeated.