Perth and Kinross Council leader resigns amid embezzlement charge; SNP member leaves

Grant Laing, the leader of Perth and Kinross Council, has resigned after being charged with embezzlement, marking a dramatic development for a central Scotland unitary authority. Laing, 63, has also left the Scottish National Party and will sit as an independent councillor as Police Scotland prepares a file for the procurator fiscal. Deputy leader Eric Drysdale will serve as acting leader until the next full council meeting on 29 October.

Laing has represented the Strathtay ward since 2012 and became council leader after the 2022 Scottish council elections. The council said he stepped down for "personal reasons" and he will operate as an independent pending further developments. The shift comes as police prepare documents for the foreign-disclosure process, and the SNP has confirmed to BBC News that Laing is no longer a member.

Police Scotland said a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal, and investigators have described the embezzlement allegations as spanning a period from 2017 through 2025 in the Perth area. The exact nature of the alleged scheme has not been disclosed publicly, and no court dates have been announced as of this writing. The scale and timing of the charges—along with Laing’s abrupt exit from the party—have prompted questions about governance and leadership at the council during a period of political change in the region.

Drysdale said the resignation is a setback for the council but emphasized the need for continuity in leadership. "Grant's decision has come as a shock to all of his councillor colleagues, but we shall all step up our efforts to fill the gap his departure will leave. Grant has given his all in the role of leader of Perth and Kinross Council for the last three-and-a-half years, driven by his wholehearted commitment to our group's core principles underpinned by a vision of a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality." The deputy leader’s comments were circulated in a formal statement to staff and the press.

The resignation was first announced in a brief update on the council’s website, with the authority declining to offer further comment at the time. The SNP’s confirmation that Laing is no longer a member underscores the seriousness of the charges and the potential implications for local governance in the coming months. Officials say Drysdale will continue to oversee council operations until a permanent successor is chosen or until a broader leadership arrangement is agreed, with the next full council meeting scheduled for 29 October.

In the broader context, Perth and Kinross Council remains one of Scotland’s larger local authorities, responsible for a wide range of services including education, social work, housing, transportation, and planning. The political balance within the council has often reflected broader debates within the SNP and other parties at the national level, and the embezzlement case adds a layer of complexity to those dynamics. While investigators pursue the case, residents will be looking to the council to maintain service levels and transparency as leadership decisions unfold. The situation also highlights ongoing scrutiny of local government ethics and governance across the country, where several councils have faced ministerial and public questions about accountability.

As the region waits for the legal process to run its course, residents and businesses in Perth and Kinross will rely on interim leadership and continued delivery of essential services. Authorities have urged the public to follow official updates for any developments related to the case and to remain informed through the council’s communications channels.