THE SNP and Labour look set to form a coalition on East Renfrewshire Council again, despite the Conservatives now being the largest group in the region.

Councillor Stewart Miller, leader of the Conservative group, has revealed his party held talks with Labour to discuss forming an alliance but said they seemed more inclined to join up with the Nationalists, who the Tories have refused to speak to.

Meanwhile, SNP group leader Tony Buchanan said his party is talking with Labour and would like the partnership to continue, as it has done since 2007.

Cllr Miller said: “We held formal talks with Labour but the inclination is that they will go with the SNP.

“We have fundamental differences with the SNP, so we are not going to talk to them.

“I find it odd that Labour want to go with them because they are allegedly a unionist party.

“We will continue to try to be a strong opposition, as we have been for the last five years.”

A total of seven Conservatives were elected across five wards in the council elections, one more than the party managed five years ago, but no group was able to secure an overall majority.

The Tories also had a councillor elected in Barrhead for the first time since 1992.

The Nationalists are one councillor better off than in 2012, having secured five seats to push Labour, which won back just half of its eight seats, into third place.

Cllr Buchanan, who represents Newton Mearns North and Neilston, said: “Talks are ongoing with Labour. It has been an SNP and Labour coalition since 2007 and we are looking at continuing that, with the SNP now being the bigger party.

“We hope to carry on the good work we have already done and build upon it.”

Paul O’Kane is leading the region’s Labour group for the first time.

The administrative make-up of the local authority is expected to be rubber-stamped within days, with a full council meeting scheduled for next Wednesday.