LABOUR will run Inverclyde Council as a minority administration and Martin Brennan has been named as the district’s new Provost.

Party chief Stephen McCabe has also returned as local authority leader, with Jim Clocherty continuing as his depute.

Former school teacher Mr Brennan was unanimously voted in as civic leader by all 22 councillors at yesterday’s first full council meeting of the new term.

Provost Brennan paid tribute to his predecessor Robert Moran, adding that if he could do a ‘fraction of what Mr Moran did’ then he would do ‘very well indeed’.

Mr Brennan said: “I’m deeply conscious of the special honour you have given me and equally conscious of the responsibility that comes with it.”

There was somewhat of a surprise when Mr McCabe proposed the election of two depute provosts.

The SNP agreed with one of the selections, Gourock independent Ronnie Ahlfeld, but that was where the consensus came to an end.

Nationalist group leader Chris McEleny hit out at the choice of Tory councillor David Wilson, who served as sole depute provost last term, as the other.

He also challenged the appointment of Councillor McCabe as council leader and once again called for a Labour-SNP coalition with newly-elected party colleague Elizabeth Robertson and a Labour nominee as co-leaders.

Mr McEleny then opposed almost all appointments of conveners and vice-conveners of committees but was defeated when it came to a vote.

Council leader Mr McCabe called it ‘embarrassing’ and told his SNP rival to ‘take the hint’.

On his own re-appointment as leader, Mr McCabe said: “Can I thank the council for appointing me for the fourth time as leader of the council. I’m deeply honoured and appreciative of the support I have received and the confidence put in me.”