THE SNP leader of Perth and Kinross Council has quit both the party and his role at the head of the local authority.
Grant Laing, who led the group which took control of the council from the Tories at the 2022 local elections , stepped down for “personal reasons”.
A statement from the council said: “Councillor Grant Laing has notified us of his resignation as council leader for personal reasons. He will continue to sit as an independent councillor.
“A new council leader will be confirmed, and any related changes to committee appointments will take place at the next meeting of full council on 29 October 2025.
“In the meantime, Councillor Eric Drysdale is acting leader of the council.”
Drysdale, who had been the council’s deputy leader, said: “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 Courier reported that the SNP had only been made aware of Laing's decision to leave on Monday, hours before it was made public.
The SNP remain the largest group on Perth and Kinross Council, with 16 seats. The Tories are the second-largest, with 12.
The LibDems have five councillors on the local authority, and Scottish Labour just one.
There are a further five independents (not including Laing) on the 40-seat council.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser claimed the news of Laing's exit showed “chaos” in the SNP administration.
