BREAKING NEWS: Independents win Highland Council power struggle

THE Independent group is to run Highland Council alone after talks with the Lib Dems and Labour fell through.

Independent councillors emerged from talks this lunchtime to announce the news at council headquarters in Inverness.

The shake-up was prompted after the Lib Dems, which had been in a ruling coalition with the SNP and Labour, left the administration last week saying they could no longer work with the nationalists.

Talks between the Lib Dems, the Independents and Labour have been ongoing for over a week with a view to forming a new coalition.

But they were unable to strike a deal and the Independents, the largest political group on the council, have decided to go it alone.

• This story will be updated shortly.

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