John Mason, the SNP group leader on the Council, said, "Sadly those who argued against the Housing Stock Transfer have been proved right once again. With GHA and the Council drifting apart, there can be no guarantee Building Services will retain the contract although I hope they do. If they have to move into a separate arms length organisation, that could well mean equal pay and other rights that staff have being undermined. Obviously job losses will be the biggest fear. The stock transfer was a major mistake and we are seeing the downside more and more as the months go by."