Highland Matters – new political group forms on Highland Council
Four Highland councillors, previously from the SNP group and one Green party member, have today joined forces to form their own council political alliance.
The councillors, led by Maxine Smith, will be known as Highland Matters, and she is asking for other councillors to join them.
It is understood former SNP councillors Pauline Munro, Maxine Smith, and Liz MacDonald will be joined by Pippa Hadley to form the group.
Announcing the plan, Ms Smith said: "We have come together as we have common ground on many issues fromiindependence for Scotland to climate change as well as a passionate caring for our communities.
“I am so excited to be part of a council group again, but one where we are in tune with one another and will work directly on ward matters, with a peaceful, collaborative approach.
"I very much look forward to working with my new councillor colleagues. We are also open to applications to join from other Highland councillors – our processes and simple and non-onerous.”
Maxine’s Cromarty Firth Ward colleague Pauline Munro agreed, saying: “This is my true calling and why I wanted to become a councillor. I truly want to help those in need and I am concentrating on that. I am very excited about working with them and sharing ideas for our wards.”
The new group will be validated at the next full council on March 25.