Labour is to run East Renfrewshire Council with the support of two independents.

At a meeting of the full council last night, the first to be held since the local elections earlier this month, the five-strong Labour group joined forces with Councillor Danny Devlin and Councillor David Macdonald to form a minority administration.

Owen O’Donnell, who was elected as a Labour candidate in the Newton Mearns North and Neilston ward at the May 5 ballot, is the new council leader.

Other key appointments made at last night's meeting include Andrew Anderson taking on the role of deputy leader, with Labour colleague Mary Montague becoming the new provost and Kate Campbell, of the Conservatives, as deputy provost.

Councillor O’Donnell described it as a “privilege and honour” to serve as council leader.

The local authority had been controlled by a coalition of SNP and Labour, along with Councillor Devlin, going into the election, where the SNP became the largest party, with six councillors.

East Renfrewshire’s SNP group had urged Labour to back its proposals for a minority administration, as both parties aimed to take control of the council.

The Nationalists wanted to form a “progressive alliance to lock the Tories out of power” and said Labour should “rule out any backroom deal” with the Conservatives.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar had previously stated that his party wouldn’t enter coalitions with the SNP or Conservatives to run councils.

An attempt by the Nationalists to convince Labour and Councillor Devlin to back an SNP-led administration at last night's meeting was unsuccessful.

In a message posted on social media last night, the Labour group said it was determined to do all it can to support the people of East Renfrewshire in what it described as "difficult times."