The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fife leader fears ‘another SNP attack’
An SNP plot to remove powers from councils “threatens to be yet another attack on local government”, says Labour’s leader in Fife.
David Ross, who co-leads the kingdom’s council in a power-sharing deal with the Nationalists, compared the attitude of Scottish ministers to councils with that held by Margaret Thatcher when she abolished disruptive metropolitan authorities.
The councillor was speaking out following reports that SNP ministers are becoming frustrated with the performance of local authorities and looking to distribute some of their powers elsewhere.
“Trying to suggest it’s a problem with local government structures looks like another attempt to divert attention away from the real issues and the SNP Government’s own failings,” he added.
“Local government has been one of the main institutions willing to question and challenge Scottish Government policy over recent years. It seems as though the SNP Government is now intent on following the example of Margaret Thatcher who simply abolished the Greater London Council and the metropolitan boroughs when they made life uncomfortable for her.”
According to The Times, the SNP is looking at making councils merge more services and to devolve power to the lowest level. One idea apparently being floated is ring-fencing funding for local communities, while roads and maintenance could be handled nationally. It all stems from a belief that councils are not doing enough to improve lives of Scots, the paper says.
Mr Ross said while he is an advocate of greater devolution to local communities, adding: “I fear there is an element within the SNP government that sees local councils as ‘the enemy’ and this desire for further devolution is driven more by their wish to reduce the powers of local authorities rather than any genuine desire for community empowerment.
Asked about her party’s plans, Nicola Sturgeon said: “I said to parliament before the recess that after 10 years of an SNP Government, any government, would want to look ahead and refresh and focus very much on the challenges ahead.”