The Arbroath councillor who lost his seat to Ewan Smith has described his former opponent as an “SNP plant”.
Peter Nield, who acted as the previous Angus Alliance administration’s education convener, led the controversial plans to merge Timmergreens and Muirfield primary schools in Arbroath into a new superschool.
He lost his Arbroath West and Letham seat to Ewan Smith, who campaigned against the merger before being put forward by the SNP for May’s local elections.
Mr Smith resigned from the SNP party on Monday on a point of principle, meaning the party lost its 15-14 majority in Angus.
Mr Nield said he was delighted it now appears the SNP has decided to support the multi-million-pound superschool.
He said: “I don’t feel vindicated by the decision I’m just pleased because it’s the right thing to do.
“I know some parents are upset by the merger and we (the Angus Alliance) would have dealt with that over this year whilst it was being built.
“There is not a new school in Angus that children and parents don’t appreciate.
“As education convener, I received letters from parents who objected to some of the Carnoustie schools but on their completion saw how marvellous they were, how well the kids liked it and how good it was for the teachers.
“It didn’t make sense that Arbroath would lag behind other burghs in Angus with its facilities.”
Mr Nield claimed he only stood for re-election last year because of the SNP’s “shenanigans”.
He continued: “I always said that three terms was enough for anybody but I didn’t want to appear like I was bowling over.
“If the SNP had come along and stopped their shenanigans and telling false truths, I would never have stood.
“Reading Mr Smith’s statement in The Courier regarding the backing he was given by the SNP in May is frankly an admission of what I’ve said all along he was a SNP plant.
“Yes, he got them in but I’m glad to see that even the SNP, who backed him, realised that a new school was the right thing to do.”
Meanwhile, long-serving independent Arbroath councillor Bob Spink has denied claims Team Angus the team working between SNP and non-administration councillors was dead.
He said: “I see little reason to believe that the resignation of Councillor Smith from the Angus SNP should have any great effect on the current administration or its declared spirit of Team Angus.
“Team Angus is very much alive and will be as long as that is the will of the majority of the council.”