The SNP councillor has led Scotland’s largest authority at a time of increasing unhappiness at the condition of the city centre, which has struggled to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the rise of homeworking.
15:32, 11 May 2026Updated 15:46, 11 May 2026
Susan Aitken is quitting as leader of Glasgow City Council(Image: Garry F McHarg Daily Record)
Susan Aitken is to stand down as the leader of Glasgow City Council after nine years in the job.
The SNP councillor informed her party colleagues today she intends to step aside from the role in September, allowing her to remain in post for this summer’s Commonwealth Games. Ricky Bell, the City Treasurer, takes over from today as the new leader of the SNP group of councillors.
Aitken has held the top job longer than anyone else since the local authority was created in its present incarnation in 1996.
But her time in office has proved controversial amid an ongoing housing emergency and increasing unhappiness at the condition of the city centre.
Central Glasgow has struggled to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic which shuttered bars and nightclubs for months on end, while office occupancy is at a fraction of 2019 levels thanks to the sharp rise in homeworking.
The council’s stewardship of the city’s historic buildings has also been repeatedly questioned amid a series of devastating fires and structural collapses.
The blaze which swept through Union Corner in March and temporarily closed Central Station was just the latest example of a listed building being reduced to rubble.
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The A-listed Mackintosh building at the Glasgow School of Art remains a burnt-out shell after its interiors were destroyed in June 2018, the second time the structure was hit by fire.
The blaze also led to the closure of the popular ABC music venue on Sauchiehall Street with the site now derelict and half-demolished.
The condition of the once famous shopping thoroughfare has declined markedly over the last 10 years, with multiple former shops lying empty.
The SNP now faces a tricky reelection campaign next year when voters head to the polls in council elections.
Aitken said: “We’ve such an abundance of talent in the Glasgow SNP Group, a team which combines youth and experience. After nine years in this incredible and demanding job, it’s time to start passing the reins.
“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.
“Our party last week secured a record fifth electoral victory and we’ve got so much momentum taking us into 2027. Now, we’ll begin putting in place the leadership team that’ll continue delivering for this city and its people.”