Glasgow Leader Urged to Aid UK in Devolution Dispute

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Glasgow’s council leader has been pressed by the United Kingdom Government to help roll back centralising policies in Scotland and protect local decision-making.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has formally reached out to Susan Aitken, who leads Glasgow City Council under the Scottish National Party (SNP), inviting her to work together to challenge First Minister John Swinney’s administration over concerns about centralised policymaking in Edinburgh. In a letter, Murray argued that communities are best served when local authorities, rather than the Scottish Government alone, have the ability to shape services and spending.

Critics say the current Scottish Government’s centralisation agenda weakens accountability and risks undermining democratic representation at the council level. Murray contends that reversing these policies would strengthen devolution by putting real authority in the hands of councils and local leaders. He expressed concerns that Swinney’s approach has increasingly sidelined local priorities in favour of more control from Holyrood.

Supporters of localism have welcomed the UK Government’s willingness to engage with councils directly. While Aitken has not yet confirmed whether she will accept Murray’s offer, the move underscores growing tensions between Edinburgh and London over how powers should be distributed within Scotland.

Murray maintained that working constructively across party lines is essential to ensure that devolution remains meaningful, rather than becoming an exercise in consolidating authority at the expense of communities. He has encouraged Glasgow and other councils to consider the benefits of closer cooperation with Westminster to protect local interests.