The SNP need to come to some sort of working arrangement with another nine councillors to create a stable minority administration or risk being voted down.

But their numbers fall well short of the 16 members required to command an overall majority.

Seven SNP councillors were returned in the local election on Thursday which makes them the largest group within the comhairle.

The new SNP group in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar hopes to form a minority administration in the council with the support of a number of newly elected independent councillors.

Political horse trading will continue up to an official council meeting on May 16th when the decision over who will be the council leader and convenor for the next five years will be voted upon. Key posts for the various service committees are also to be fill, including the influential policy and resources committee which deals with the council’s finances.

Many returning councillors - particularly those with Labour leanings - are unlikely to be approached as they will be deemed hostile to any suggestion of partnership with the SNP. Similarly, neither will a handful of fresh faces.

Which leaves the SNP negotiating with around ten or even less individuals over the coming days. Perhaps half of them may consider working on a vote- by- vote basis but the SNP still have to persuade more before it can make a serious constitutional bid to run the comhairle.

At the same time, some returning councillors not involved with the SNP will be canvassing support prior to making a bid to be leader and convenor.

According to the SNP group, a “good number” of independent councillors “respect” their mandate to “bring new governance” to the Comhairle’s way of doing things

These members are said to be “positively engaging.”

Group leader, Donald Manford, said: “We are looking to form an administration composed of the SNP group and independent councillors.

“I thank those councillors who have already engaged with us - the largest group elected by the people - and want to see a more transparent and accountable comhairle.”

He added: “We will continue to reach out to councillors who share this view.

“One thing is clear, things must change. Let us seize this new opportunity.”