Aberdeenshire SNP Group Elect New Leader
>> 8 April 2020
Cllr Gwyneth Petrie, who represents Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford, has been elected as the new leader of the SNP Council Group in Aberdeenshire.
The vacancy arose following the election of the previous Group Leader, Cllr Richard Thomson, as the MP for Gordon. Cllr Stephen Smith will remain in his position as Deputy Leader of the SNP Group.
Commenting, Cllr Petrie said:
“It is an honour to become the Leader of the SNP Group in Aberdeenshire.
“I’m stepping into this position at a deeply challenging time for Aberdeenshire, and all of the people who we represent here. Our priority at this time absolutely has to be steering Aberdeenshire through this pandemic, and that will rightly mean working collaboratively with colleagues across the Council. We, as a group, stand ready to do that.
“Once we are through this pandemic, then we can focus once again on delivering the priorities of our group, which have been well established under the excellent leadership of Cllr Thomson, and continuing to hold the administration to account.”
“I’m stepping into this position at a deeply challenging time for Aberdeenshire, and all of the people who we represent here. Our priority at this time absolutely has to be steering Aberdeenshire through this pandemic, and that will rightly mean working collaboratively with colleagues across the Council. We, as a group, stand ready to do that.
“Once we are through this pandemic, then we can focus once again on delivering the priorities of our group, which have been well established under the excellent leadership of Cllr Thomson, and continuing to hold the administration to account.”
Offering his congratulations to Cllr Petrie, outgoing Group Leader Richard Thomson said:
"I'd like to offer Gwyneth my warmest congratulations on her election. She's someone who since her election has earned great respect both inside and outside the council in her community. I know she'll do a fantastic job in holding the current political leaders to account as we prepare to offer SNP leadership of the council once more.
"It has been an enormous privilege to have served as SNP Group Leader since 2015 and to have had the opportunity to lead the SNP Group into administration for the first time in the council's history. I am pleased to have been able to play my part in shaping Aberdeenshire for the better as both council leader and opposition leader and to be able to hand over a group which is in good health and which is once again the largest group on Aberdeenshire Council.
"Clearly, the present pandemic has put politics as usual into abeyance for the time being. However, I know that under Gwyneth's leadership, the SNP group will continue to show that it has the ability, the commitment and the understanding of how the council works to be effective public servants and to do what needs to be done for our communities in the period ahead."
"It has been an enormous privilege to have served as SNP Group Leader since 2015 and to have had the opportunity to lead the SNP Group into administration for the first time in the council's history. I am pleased to have been able to play my part in shaping Aberdeenshire for the better as both council leader and opposition leader and to be able to hand over a group which is in good health and which is once again the largest group on Aberdeenshire Council.
"Clearly, the present pandemic has put politics as usual into abeyance for the time being. However, I know that under Gwyneth's leadership, the SNP group will continue to show that it has the ability, the commitment and the understanding of how the council works to be effective public servants and to do what needs to be done for our communities in the period ahead."
