A councillor who quit the SNP last month and was trumpeted as "Labour's newest councillor" by the party's Scottish leader Iain Gray is now expected to go independent.

Colin Deans, a councillor in Glasgow, has confirmed that he is "still considering his options" but has said that he prefers the option of becoming the "loose cannon" within Glasgow City Council.

Mr Deans, who has also been a member of both the Conservatives and SDP, said: "I will let the leader of the administration (Steven Purcell) know my final decision when he returns from holiday but if I take the road of being an independent it won't come as a shock.

"I have had the views of some Labour and SNP members and listened to family and friends. There's no ill will and I felt very flattered by the invitation to join the Labour administration."

But he added: "The city chambers needs a loose cannon and I'm the type who spares the blushes of no minister."

Mr Deans has told friends that while he would have no issues about joining Glasgow's Labour administration he would have a problem joining the Labour Party.

He is also understood to have been aware of derogatory remarks made about him by what were expected to be his new colleagues within Labour ranks, claiming he did "not want to leave one group of backstabbers for another".

Mr Deans "defected" after citing allegations of bullying and harassment, outspoken comments about Scotland's Irish community, his support of the controversial Go Ape scheme in Glasgow's Pollok Park and comments made during the SNP conference about ministers as reasons for his departure.

If he becomes Glasgow's sole independent councillor the move will generate much embarrassment within Labour ranks.

Iain Gray described his departure from the Nationalists as "a double whammy" and "a devastating blow for the SNP".

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