THE North Lanarkshire Labour group has been accused of acting “beyond the pale” in its reversal of an SNP ban on a controversial weedkiller.

North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) is run by a Labour minority administration, and Murdostoun councillor Louise Roarty had previously hit out at the SNP and independents for joining forces to ban weedkillers using glyphosate.

The SNP cited health concerns raised globally over the safety of glyphosate, with fears over the potential harm to humans, the environment and bees.

With the help of the Tories, the Labour administration has now overturned that ban.

A statement said: “CONFIRMED: Labour have overturned the SNP’s ridiculous decision to ban effective weedkiller in North Lanarkshire to get our green spaces back on track.”

A special council meeting had been called by the SNP amid concerns over public spaces becoming overgrown.

Coatbridge South SNP councillor Tracy Carragher said Labour and the Tories then “hijacked” the party’s motion to reverse the ban on the weedkiller.

Carragher added: “Sadly, council areas and cemeteries will now not be provided with a one-off cut and strim by the end of the season to bring up the standard expected.”

The SNP had called for a one-off cut – with Labour then making the same suggestion, amending it to lift the ban on the controversial weedkiller.

Among the most high-profile rows involving glyphosate has been over the impact of Monsanto's Roundup, which uses it as the active chemical.

The National:

Councillor Carragher, also the SNP depute spokesperson for environment and transportation for the council area, said: “The decision to ban glyphosate use by North Lanarkshire Council was made in good faith because of legitimate concerns over health, both to humans and wildlife, and was upheld at the meeting of Environment and Transportation in May.

“Upholding the ban and allowing the European Commission to formulate its decision regarding renewal of the approval and classification for glyphosate until such time as the council can be satisfied that there be no adverse human health impact is prudent and appropriate.

"For the Labour administration, supported by the Conservative Group, to use the special council meeting called by the SNP group – a meeting called to request a one-off cut and strim to all areas of the North Lanarkshire estate, including cemeteries – to reverse the ban on the use of glyphosate is beyond the pale.

“It has highlighted to me, not for the first time, that the main priority of the Labour and the Conservative groups within North Lanarkshire, when making their ‘choices’, is to have a go at the SNP; their dripping disdain for the SNP is having a direct impact on the people we represent as they do not put them first.”

The council has defended the decision, pointing to a report prepared for the European Union.

An NLC spokesperson said: “The council had previously decided not to use glyphosate weedkillers. However, the council considered and supported a proposition that glyphosate weedkiller should be reintroduced as an effective way to manage weeds at its special meeting on August 19, 2021.

“In doing so, the council took into account the draft risk assessment prepared by international scientists for the European Union which concluded that glyphosate is not carcinogenic, genotoxic or toxic to reproduction.

"As with all chemicals, a full risk assessment for safe use to protect both staff and members of the public will be in place when it is deemed necessary to utilise these products.”

However, environment and transportation spokesperson for the SNP in North Lanarkshire, William Goldie, hit out at Labour for failing to live up to pledges to protect biodiversity.

The councillor said: “The health and environmental concerns over glyphosate have been well documented and it was forward thinking of North Lanarkshire Council to take the lead in banning its use within the authority.

“It was disappointing at the Environment and Transportation Committee that this unanimous decision was in danger of being reversed. Thankfully the majority of the committee voted to maintain the ban.

“It was disappointing to find out that NLC had not sourced an alternative to glyphosate and the proceeded to blame the increase in weeds on the SNP.

“The jury is still out on glyphosate and many retailers stock glyphosate-free alternatives. Clearly there are still major concerns over its safety and we must err on the side of caution.

“North Lanarkshire Council recently agreed to sign up to the Edinburgh agreement to protect biodiversity and to reintroduce glyphosate seems counter intuitive.

“It is also concerning that Labour took the opportunity to reintroduce glyphosate on the back of a special council meeting called by the SNP to address legitimate concerns of many residents over grassed areas that were previously maintained were dropped from the schedule with consultation giving residents little information and leaving them with no opportunity to put viable alternatives in place during the pandemic.”