THE Scottish Labour Party has been rocked by a bitter

behind-the-scenes row over moves by the defeated Labour administration

in Tayside to commit the ultimate political heresy of clinging on to

power with Tory support.

Yesterday Labour's Scottish secretary, Mr Jack McConnell, intervened

to tell leading Labour councillors in the region that ''no Labour

administration worth its salt would get the support of the Tories''.

However, it was not only Labour which was rendered apoplectic by the

political manoeuvring. The SNP last night branded the actions of the

Tayside Labour councillors as ''sordid and squalid''.

A party spokesman said: ''It is party policy for the SNP that we would

never enter into a coalition with the Tories. For Labour councillors on

Tayside to even consider courting the Conservatives to keep their jobs

shows the contempt they have for the voters of Tayside. They should

accept the verdict of the electorate with good grace.''

The SNP emerged after last week's regional elections as the largest

single party in Tayside, winning 22 of the council's 46 seats. Labour's

representation fell from 18 to 16 with the remaining seats divided

between the Conservatives holding four and the Liberal Democrats and

independents with two each.

However, Labour councillors want to cling on to power by nominating

Labour members for convenerships -- a move supported by around

two-thirds of the 16-strong Labour group and one expected to attract

backing from trade unions worried about possible job losses under a new

administration.

Any attempt by Labour to defeat SNP nominations for council

convenerships could only be successful with support from Conservative

councillors.

The councillors will put their case to Tayside Labour Party's general

management committee tonight at what one predicted would be a ''lively

meeting''.

Local Labour Party officials are privately appalled at the manoeuvres

of the group which will meet to consider its final position after the

GMC meeting.

Labour councillor George Hood, the region's former economic

development convener, said of last week's results: ''I don't think it

was a vote against Labour and neither was it a vote for the SNP.

''It is a question of interpreting the will of the people in Tayside.

I don't think the people of Tayside said they were supporting Scottish

Nationalism -- it was a vote against the Tories.''

He added: ''One idea floating around is that we should put forward our

nominees for convenerships at this Friday's meeting of the council. I

think various political groups should vote depending on what they think

is the best option for the region.''

Mr McConnell confirmed that he had spoken to some of the councillors

and added that the Labour Party nationally would make its position known

at tonight's meeting.

''There are no Labour administrations in Scotland kept in power on

Tory votes -- and there will not be,'' he insisted.

''The only party in Scotland which has an administration kept in power

with Tory votes is the SNP in West Lothian. We are not about to make

that mistake.''

One long-serving Labour insider said: ''There is no way that Labour

councillors should be seeking support from the Tories just to save their

own positions.

''I am appalled by the antics of certain leading councillors and so

are many members of the party. They will be told as much in no uncertain

fashion.''

Tayside Tory group leader Bruce Mackie appeared to dismiss any

suggestion of the Tories allying with Labour, but he declined to reveal

how his group would vote.

Councillor Mackie and his three remaining council colleagues will meet

later today to discuss the local post-election situation but last night

he said: ''There is no question at all of us working in any alliance

with any other party.''