FORMER first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf have expressed concern about the exclusion of Scotland's local authority leaders from the first meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions.
The inaugural meeting of the council, which was proposed by Keir Starmer shortly after Labour's victory in the General Election, is due to take place in Edinburgh on Friday.
However, the meeting has faced considerable criticism for including just one representative from Scotland in the form of First Minister John Swinney.
While mayors from across England will be invited to attend, no local authority leaders from Scotland have been invited.
In a letter to Keir Starmer from SNP MSP for Maryhill and Springburn Bob Doris, and co-signed by a host of Glasgow MSPs including Sturgeon and Yousaf, the Prime Minister was urged to reconsider the exclusion of more Scottish representatives.
The letter reads:
"Dear Prime Minister,
Ahead of the first meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions, we are writing to express our grave concern that you have chosen to exclude all of Scotland's local authority leaders.
"In particular, we are disappointed that representation from the city of Glasgow is being refused, while representatives of several cities in England will attend.
✉️ Read the letter signed by @BillKiddSNP @glasgowcathcart @kaukabstewart @HumzaYousaf @Ivan_McKee @NicolaSturgeon and @SusaninLangside here: pic.twitter.com/USr6SGJfsd
— The SNP Media (@theSNPMedia) October 10, 2024
"Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, an economic powerhouse and has as much right to attend as any of the English regions.
"Similarly, to have no representation from Edinburgh as our capital city, or Aberdeen as the proposed location of GB Energy makes little sense.
"When this meeting is being held in Scotland, with the aim of improving collaboration across all levels of government, this decision is particularly inexplicable.
"We would urge you to reconsider this decision and ensure representation from Glasgow — and others parts of Scotland — at the meeting on an equal basis with local authorities in England. "
The letter is signed by Doris, Sturgeon, Yousaf as well as MSPs James Dornan, Kaukab Stewart, Ivan McKee and leader of Glasgow City Council Susan Aitken.
It comes after Starmer's newly appointed envoy for nations and regions, Sue Gray, pulled out of attending the meeting.
