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Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken to step down

News imageGetty Images Susan Aitken has shoulder-length dark brown hair. She has blue eyes and is mid-speechGetty Images
Susan Aitken has been council leader since 2017

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken has announced that she will step down from her role after nine years.

She is the longest serving leader since the local authority formed in 1996.

She will formally leave her role at a council meeting on 10 September and a new leader will be chosen then.

Aitken has been at the helm of the council's SNP group since 2014 and represented the Langside ward since 2012.

Aitken will remain a councillor for Langside until council elections next year.

"After nine years in this incredible and demanding job, it's time to start passing the reins," she said.

"Once I'd decided that I wouldn't stand for council again, it was just about choosing the ideal time for a change of leadership.

"Having consulted with my group colleagues, now is that time."

News imagePA Media Nicola Sturgeon and Susan Aitken hold hands lifted into the air in a show of triumph. Sturgeon has short fair hair and wears a pink blazer with a black shirt, and Aikten has shoulder-length dark brown hair and wears a blue blazer, black shirt, and yellow and black SNP rosette. A TV camera films themPA Media
Susan Aitken led the SNP group on the council to a second victory in 2022

Aitken's deputy Richard Bell will take over as SNP group leader with immediate effect.

He said: "I know I have very big shoes to fill but I am looking forward to taking on the role and working hard every day to deliver for everyone in our city."

Aitken led the SNP to its first victory at Glasgow City Council in 2017 and held onto power in 2022.

She oversaw the local authority during the Covid pandemic, COP26 and the two devastating fires at the Glasgow School of Art.

Her tenure has seen the introduction of the Low Emission Zone in the city centre, as well as the safer drugs consumption facility in the east end.

The council also had to pay out £770m in an equal pay dispute in 2022 which led to financial challenges.

Aitken has previously faced criticism over the condition of the city centre.

However, she denied it was in a poor state to the BBC's Scotcast podcast earlier this year.

She said: "There's certainly a narrative that is pushed about Glasgow along those lines. But if you go into the city centre right now you will see unprecedented levels of investment taking place."

Recently the council has had to deal with the fallout from a large fire on Union Street which closed Glasgow Central Station.

The city is due to host the Commonwealth Games this summer.

Additional reporting by local democracy reporter Drew Sandelands