Playing Cards Could Decide South Lanarkshire Council Leadership
The selection of the new leader for South Lanarkshire Council might be determined by cutting a pack of playing cards.
The council is in the process of finding a successor for Labour councillor Joe Fagan, who is stepping down after his election as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) in the recent Holyrood election.
A vote among elected members is scheduled during the full council meeting on 27 May, although the candidates to be nominated have not yet been confirmed.
A council report prepared in advance of the meeting outlines that in the event of a tie, the new leader could
"be determined by a pack of cards being cut",with the highest value card winning.
While resorting to a deck of cards is considered a highly unlikely outcome, as a preferred candidate is expected to be chosen through voting, the procedure has been detailed as a contingency.
The process involves the committee clerk removing the jokers and shuffling the deck, with aces ranked as "high" and all suits treated equally.
Each candidate's nominated representative would then cut the deck in turn, and the individual revealing the highest card would be declared the winner.
The entire procedure would be recorded on film, and a council clerk would announce each card aloud for the official record.
If two cards of the same value are drawn, the cutting would be repeated until one card is higher than the other.
Labour Group and Council Discussions
Members of the Labour group have indicated their intention to elect a new group leader prior to the upcoming council meeting.
Additionally, discussions are expected among all political groups within the council to identify the most suitable candidate to lead the local authority.
Joe Fagan served as leader of South Lanarkshire Council for four years before winning a regional list seat for Labour in the South Scotland region during the Holyrood election held on 7 May.
He will continue to serve as a councillor for East Kilbride Central North until the end of his current term.
Story by Local Democracy reporter Marc McLean.
