A Scottish Labour leadership contender has backed ending the ban on party councillors doing coalition deals to shut out Reform.
Monica Lennon said she would trust council groups to make their own decisions – even if this meant reaching out to the SNP.
She said: “We need to unite against the poison of Reform.”
Previous leader Anas Sarwar slapped a ban on his council groups agreeing coalition deals with the SNP or the Tories in 2022.
The curb annoyed councillors who believed the edict was a sign of power being taken away from local politicians.
Lennon, who has declared her intention to run as leader, said a rethink is required due to the current toxic political environment.
Anti-immigration Reform UK are expected to make sweeping gains at the council elections next year and could have a big say on local decision-making.
With local authorities in charge of schools, transport and housing, she fears the current ban could lead to Reform councillors getting their hands on the levers of power.
She also said Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s agenda of giving councils more powers had to include trusting local representatives.
She told the Record: “The immediate priority for the party is the local government elections next year and ensuring local services are protected.
“The last thing our local communities need is the wrecking ball of Reform smashing services and undermining community relations.
“I have seen first hand the malign influence on Reform at Holyrood, where Glasgow MSP Thomas Kerr appears to be auditioning for the role of a Scottish Tommy Robinson. We cannot allow Reform to dictate the decisions in our councils.”
“If I was leader, I would argue for the ban on Labour council groups doing coalition deals with other mainstream parties to be lifted. Devolution means respecting Scottish Labour councillors to make the right decisions for their areas.
“I want as many Scottish Labour-led administrations as possible and I will not tie the hands of my colleagues.”
She said her “strong personal preference” is against deals with the Tories, but said she trusted the judgement of party councillors.
Deals with Nigel Farage’s Reform would be banned.
The current ban led to the end of the Labour/SNP coalition in Edinburgh that had previously existed.
View 2 ImagesCity of Edinburgh Council
It comes as Scottish Labour is bracing itself for a leadership contest to succeed Sarwar.
Lennon, who will be back as an MSP within days, says she wants to run while serving MSP Michael Marra has also declared.
Joe Fagan, who was elected as an MSP for the first time in May, is also being encouraged to stand.
West Scotland MSP Katy Clark, who worked for former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is also taking soundings.
Whoever wins will be the eleventh Scottish Labour leader in the devolution era.
Nominees for leader need the support of three Labour MSPs, three Scottish Labour MPs and trade union/local party support to get on the ballot.
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The result will be announced on September 19th.