The Labour candidate for the Ayr constituency in the 2026 Scottish election, is Brian McGinley, above.
At the time of the 2022 local elections, McGinley was Labour group leader. The outcome was:
- Conservatives: 10 seats (largest party, down 2 from 2017).
- SNP: 9 seats.
- Labour: 8 seats.
- Independents: 1 seat.
The Conservatives formed a minority administration. This was enabled by independent councillors and abstentions from Labour councillors on key votes to set-up the Conservative administration. In 2025, the Conservative council collapsed in a ‘job for pals’ scandal over the award of contracts.
The consequences have been ‘devastating’ for local people. See this:
Who is to blame? Did Ayr Labour Facilitate a Conservative Council?
Yes, specifically the South Ayrshire Labour group (which includes Ayr-based councillors) [led by McGinlay] facilitated the Conservative minority administration after the 2022 elections through strategic abstentions. This prevented an SNP-Labour coalition and allowed Conservatives to lead despite not having a majority. The arrangement held until the 2025 leadership change, but Labour’s role in enabling it remains a point of local political debate.
Source: https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=1985636783258750997
Was McGinlay acting on his own initiative or did someone more powerful tell him what to do?
Anas Sarwar instructed local Labour councillors not to support the SNP leading to Conservative control in councils such as Edinburgh, Stirling, North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Is this then not (political) ammunition for the SNP candidate in that area as in they, the SNP, may need to fight fire with fire….as this is exactly what Labour would do in a similar situation , if it were the SNP who had enabled a Tory Council to have control as a minority administration.
Remember how Labour suspended two of their councillors in Edinburgh Council because they would not vote with the Tories …..a matter not over publicised by the media in Scotland……but it would have been well publicised by the media here had it been the SNP who had done this.
You know it really is a case, with Labour, that “the rot starts from the head down”….both via their HQ and their branch office (in Scotland).
Liz S
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Is this then not (political) ammunition for the SNP candidate in that area as in they, the SNP, may need to fight fire with fire?
Indeed, they should.
John
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Research indicates that ad hominem-style messaging can influence voter preferences, turnout, and attitudes by leveraging negativity bias (our brains prioritize negative information) and damaging source credibility.
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Q. Tell me AI , How can you tell that Labour in Scotland is untrustworthy , corrupt and no friend to Working People ?
A. Anas Sarwar is their leader (sic ) .
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This information is wrong there was Four independents ellected
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