First clashes kick off as council election campaign gets underway

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The first salvoes have been fired as the battle for Stirling Council gets underway.The SNP and the Conservatives clashed this week following the announcement that a total of 56 candidates will be standing in May 5 poll, with the SNP fielding 14 and the Conservatives 11.Stirling MP Alyn Smith said: “Boris Johnson is a busted flush and the Stirling Tories know it; they’re not even standing enough candidates to win the local council elections.“Just like their Westminster colleagues, they lack the ambition, positivity and vision the people of Stirling deserve from their local government.‘Stirling SNP are standing two candidates in every ward, to win an outright majority and keep our pandemic recovery firmly on track.“We’ll get on with the job of delivering quality public services and support for local businesses and households - the Tories can explain on the doorsteps their abysmal handling of Brexit, lockdown parties and the cost of living crisis.’Pointing to the previous SNP-Labour administration’s bin collection charges, Conservative leader Neil Benny described them as “an albatross around every SNP candidates’ underqualified neck.”He said: “The SNP seem to think that people in Stirling are stupid and don’t understand the electoral system.

Councils benefit from a collegiate approach, not a one-party dictatorship.“We are fielding high-quality candidates. People who have run businesses and social enterprises.“Passionate and committed people who will put Stirling first from a range of backgrounds.“The worst outcome possible for Stirling would be for this mediocre SNP bunch to be in control of your council, a truly terrifying thought.”But Labour group leader Chris Kane said: “I know of people from all ends of the political