It’s “the end of an era” for Fife’s SNP group as Councillor David Alexander has stepped back from his role as group leader.
Cllr Brian Goodall broke the news on Facebook last week with Cllr Craig Walker now taking on the role.
Cllr Goodall, who represents the Rosyth ward, posted: “It’s the end of an era tonight as David Alexander stood down as leader of Fife Council SNP Group at the annual general meeting.
“David has done an amazing job in the role but said tonight he felt it was time for someone else to take it on.
"He’ll stay on as leader of the opposition until the next meeting of the full Fife Council.”
Cllr Alexander said: “It was always my plan to step down [as group leader] after the general election.
“In the 38 years I’ve been in the SNP as a councillor, all but 10 I’ve been the group leader.
"It’s time to give somebody else like Cllr Walker an idea of what I’ve been doing as leader for that amount of time!”
And the 70-year-old added: “And I think my wife and family deserve a bit of me now.”
Cllr Walker, the SNP man in the Glenrothes West and Kinglassie ward, will replace Cllr Alexander, who represents the Leven, Kennoway and Largo communities.
He said: “There’s a mixture of excitement and anticipation along with a bit of trepidation as well.
“I’ve got big shoes to fill. David has been around for 38 years and seen pretty much everything there is to see in terms of local government from an SNP perspective both in administration and now in opposition.”
Cllr Walker continued: “I think the transition we’re doing now leaves me a good period to settle into the job as a leader. I obviously I have some of my own ideas but it’ll be very useful to have some of David’s extensive knowledge to pick from as well.”
The shake-up to the leadership team in Fife includes Cllr Goodall taking on the role of group spokesperson for housing and building services.
He said: “I served in this role for for 10 years from 2007 until 2017 and I felt the time is now right for me to take on this Fife wide responsibility once again, in addition to my role as a full time councillor in the Rosyth ward.
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