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SNP plans to slash Scotland's 32 councils to as few as six but keep all the councillors, drawing 'dog's dinner' verdict

From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026 · last updated 22 September 2026.

Jenny Gilruth said the reforms would focus investment on "frontline delivery" and empower communities, with housing, planning and transport powers potentially handed down from Holyrood to new regional bodies.
Jenny Gilruth said the reforms would focus investment on "frontline delivery" and empower communities, with housing, planning and transport powers potentially handed down from Holyrood to new regional bodies.

Scotland's Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has published an 1,800-word position paper proposing to replace all 32 Scottish councils with between six and ten regional authorities, plus up to 160 smaller community bodies below them. Under the two-tier structure, councillor numbers would stay unchanged, with the same elected members serving at both levels — and the heavier workload could justify higher pay. The SNP describes the paper as only a "starting point" for discussion with local government body Cosla ahead of council elections next year.

Scottish Conservative spokesman Alexander Burnett branded the plan a 'dog's dinner', accusing John Swinney of 'making it up as they go along.'

Leith — an independent burgh until 1920 — is specifically named in the document as a place that could win its own community authority under the new system.

MoreDaily Mail NewsSNP want councils cut from 32 to six... but NO reduction in councillorsThe HeraldUp to 160 community bodies proposed in Scotland's council shake-upThe ScotsmanLeith could get its own council under local authority shake up
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