Tory leader Findlay to call for more local council powers

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay will call for more powers to be devolved to local governments and communities in a speech on Monday.

The event in Glasgow will be his first significant speech since MSP Jeremy Balfour quit the party, saying it had “fallen into the trap of reactionary politics”.

The Lothian region MSP will sit as an independent until the next Holyrood election.

Mr Balfour also accused the party leadership of showing little interest in “genuine policy innovation”.

During his speech on Monday, Mr Findlay will say a “new era of local power” is needed to fix public services.

He will say the SNP is taking an anti-business approach, also arguing that council budgets should be bigger and Government ring-fencing should be removed.

Mr Findlay will say: “What happens at Holyrood is often a waste of time and taxpayers’ money. It fixates on fringe issues that the majority don’t care about.

“Parliament seems detached from reality. A new era of local power is needed to bring about change.

“Decision-making in Scotland is too centralised. Power should be transferred from politicians to the people, where it belongs.”

He will add: “Communities deserve a direct say in how money is spent. Council budgets should be bigger. And they should no longer be ring-fenced by ministers in Edinburgh.

“We would stop SNP ministers from directing the civil service to agitate for the break-up of Britain.

“If the SNP wants to waste its time and ring-fenced donations on this folly, that’s their right. But it’s not their right to do so with taxpayers’ money.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government continues to recognise the invaluable role local government plays as a crucial partner in the delivery of our shared priorities for the people of Scotland.

“Maintaining and strengthening this partnership remains a key priority to ensure we can work collaboratively to meet the needs of our local communities.”