LABOUR will form a minority administration on Fife Council after winning a vote which will see them take charge.

Despite only winning 20 seats at May's local elections compared to the SNP's 34, the party gained the support of both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives to take control.

A vote of all 75 councillors saw 41 councillors opt for the Labour-led minority administration compared to 34 for an SNP-run council.

Labour say they have not formed a coalition with either the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives but say they will need the support of others in the council to provide an effective administration.

SNP group leader, Councillor David Alexander, had blasted the move and said there was "no coherent defence for this gerrymandered motion" after his party had won the most seats and said the outcome was "trampling on democracy".

Labour leader, Councillor David Ross, however said their minority administration offered a "much improved governance structure" which offers member-led decision making.

"We are talking about standing up for local government and the best interest of Fife and Fife Council," he said. "Although the SNP won the largest number of seats, they only gained 36.9 per cent of first preference votes.

"Despite the fact that we are not the largest group on the council, we believe Labour is best placed for a progressive policy for the next five years."

SNP councillor John Beare said Labour's motion was the most "shameful anti-democratic shenanigan" he had seen in the last 16 years.

"This is one of the worst stitch-ups I have ever seen. Those that propose it and enable it should hang their heads in shame."

The Fife Liberal Democrats say they have agreed to work "constructively" with new Fife Council leadership.

Its leader, Cllr Jonny Tepp, said: “Following the very successful election results for the Liberal Democrats earlier this month we have been determined to use our increased numbers and influence to deliver for the people who voted for us.

“We have had constructive discussions with other council groups on how a stable and inclusive administration can be formed.

“Whilst we have been unable to form a coalition we were impressed by the Labour group’s commitment to change the way the council operates including strengthening accountability and scrutiny.

“In addition to providing good services to the people of Fife, Liberal Democrats are determined to close the poverty related attainment gap in schools, improve the performance for all pupils, tackle the shortages in social care, deliver the Levenmouth railway, build many more homes for social rent and meet our obligations to the climate.

“We are also positive that we can make early progress on the opening times for leisure centres and recycling centres in North East Fife, on the headships in schools in the East Neuk and Largo, funding for flooding and roads maintenance as well as measures to revitalise Dunfermline town centre.

“We will work constructively with the new Labour administration to achieve these important priorities.”

Following the vote, Dunfermline MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville has slammed the outcome, saying that Labour had disregarded Fife's wishes to suit their own priority.

"People voted overwhelmingly for an SNP administration to take charge of Fife Council but Labour have schemed their way in - despite winning only 20 of the 75 seats on offer," she said.

"Anas Sarwar was insistent before the election that Labour would not be making any pacts or deals or coalitions.

"However, it is now perfectly clear that those were empty words.

"Labour are trying to paint this as a 'minority administration' but no one will fall for that lamentable PR spin.

"Voters wanted progressive politics not a pact with the Tories, who saw their own vote collapse because of party-gate and a refusal to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

"This is nothing more than a Better Together coalition and further proof that if you vote Labour in Fife, you'll end up with the Tories."