A POPULAR SNP provost has been ousted in a coup staged by Labour and the Tories.

Jim Todd – known as the "Rock 'n' Roll provost" – lost his role at East Ayrshire Council in a knife edge vote this morning after first being elected to the role in 2013.

Labour councillor Barry Douglas took the post by a vote of 15 to 16. He was supported in his efforts by the Tories and the "Rubbish Party". 

Ahead of the vote today Anas Sarwar was told he faces a "major test" of his leadership amid a bid to oust an SNP provost.

Todd is currently awaiting a hip replacement and had less than a year to go before his retirement in his role.

SNP depute provost Claire Leitch also lost her role with the position going to Sally Cogley, of the "Rubbish Party".

Leitch is the youngest female depute provost in Scotland and the founder of Scotland's Youth Parliament.

During this morning's meeting, ahead of the vote, Leitch told of her pride in holding the position.

"It's been an absolute honour and privilege to serve as the council's depute provost.

"I hope you would all agree that I have used my platform for good, for the right reasons and have proudly driven forward progressive change in views and attitudes on many issues including women's issues, young people, LGBTQ+," she said.

"One of the things I have loved about this role has been the diversity between me and Jim [the provost]. When Jim and I go to events. We walk up to the Scottish Provost Association, everybody turns their heads to look at us.

"We are so proud to be so diverse ... a rocker and a lassie from Auchinleck, the diversity of Scotland that we have been branded as."

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She went on to say that someone from her background becoming depute provost had given hope to other people in the community.

"What I don't understand is that 10 months ahead of an election me and Jim have been ousted.

"Call it what you want but just because you can doesn't mean you should or should have."

The SNP had called on the Scottish Labour leader to prove his credentials in ensuring his party doesn't team up with the Tories.

Following the ousting of Todd and Leitch, the SNP MSP Elena Whitham said: “It was a sad day in East Ayrshire today as Labour, Tory and Rubbish Party councillors worked together to prevent the re-election of our much-loved Rock'n'Roll Provost Jim Todd and his dynamic Depute Claire Leitch.

"During the meeting, when asked why they would seek to make such a move only 10 months from the local government elections, they replied that the SNP held 'too much power'.

"I find it staggering that this quest for power has prevented our hard-working civic head Jim from remaining in post until he retires from public life in May next year.

"They can try to spin it any way they like but the folk of East Ayrshire are already seeing through this naked power grab and are taking to social media in droves.

"Jim was more than just a Provost, he beguiled and delighted people of every age and he leaves big biker boots to fill.”

Ahead of the vote an SNP spokesman said last night: “This is a major test of Anas Sarwar’s leadership of Scottish Labour.

“He made a lot of noise about not working with the Scots Tories when their leader Douglas Ross tried to lure him in during the Holyrood election campaign.

“Let’s see if he is a man of his word and sticks to his position on a matter of principle.

“Or will he fold and side with the party of Boris Johnson who will pay for the exorbitant cost of his hard Brexit on the backs of the poorest Scots?"

Sarwar rebuffed attempts by Scottish Tory leader Ross to form a Unionist pact during this year's Holyrood election campaign.

At the time, Sarwar said: “No, I won’t. A quarter of Scottish kids are growing up in poverty while you and the SNP divide our country.

“Instead I will focus on bringing people together and rebuilding our country – not a return to the divisive politics of old.”