Stephanie 
7
Four councillors have quit the Scottish Conservative group on Dumfries and Galloway Council to set up a new party.
Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh blamed their decision on frustration over centralised decision-making.
They pointed to the lack of support for the Galloway National Park proposals as one of the reasons they decided to form an independent group called Novantae.
It leaves the Scottish Conservative and Unionist group – which forms the administration – with nine councillors.
The SNP has 11 members, Scottish Labour has eight, and there are 15 sitting as independents or in smaller political groupings.
