There is a kernel of positivity in the Scottish Government's plans, but let's be frank: if they fully get their way, they will destroy local democracy entirely. Yes, it's that bad.

Scottish Government proposal for reform of local governance

Dumfries and Galloway Council is deeply saddened by the death of Councillor Archie Dryburgh MBE, a much-respected colleague who devoted many years of his life to public service and to the communities ...

A relatively close contest saw the SNP triumph over Labour and Reform positioned for a councillor next May, over crashing Conservatives and a poor Green result.

An Independent-caused vacancy is likely to come down to an SNP-Labour contest, as Reform are unlikely to be as strong as they were next door.

When I’ve published successive versions of New Municipalism, it’s always been with the understanding that I was presenting a somewhat utopian vision with little prospect of implementation. Wholesale…

The sad passing of a long serving SNP councillor sets up a fierce contest with Labour, where the Conservatives could bar the latter's way, and which the Greens will also be watching closely.

The Greens win only their second ever by-election, and having done so, alarm bells should be ringing for the SNP in the capital.

Labour strengthen their hold with a best-ever result for any party in this ward, the Greens improving but not enough for this ward.

A potentially close contest between the Conservatives and SNP for a by-election may be more use for predicting May's results: might Labour lose their councillor to Reform or the Greens?

The SNP are likely to emerge victorious here not because of their own support, but because a healthy Green performance will set up a generous flow of transfers to them.

The Greens are well positioned for their second-ever by-election win here, which will also be a key test to show whether they have the support for two councillors in one ward next May.

All by-elections are unique, sure, but there's a recent pattern in much of the Highlands: if you're betting on a party, go for the Lib Dems, but never write off an Independent.

Douglas Trevor Philand, known to many as Dougie, served the Mid Argyll area as a local councillor for 19 years and latterly held the office of Provost of Argyll and Bute.

An Independent-caused vacancy is likely to come down to an SNP-Labour contest, as Reform are unlikely to be as strong as they were next door.

Michael Marra and Joe Fagan secured enough to support to run to replace Anas Sarwar.

AN SNP councillor who “put his heart and soul” into championing his local community for almost 20 years has died, his colleagues have confirmed…

Background Fresh from their sixth Holyrood election on the trot of losing seats, Scottish Labour are headed into a brutal leadership election that simultaneously everyone expected but no one knew …

The months following May's transformational Scottish Parliament election have been an oddly quiet time for Scottish politics. Some of that has been down to the usual summer recess, of course, but a large part of it is that the oxygen has been taken up by events at Westminster. There hasn't been the space to properly reflect on how different Scottish politics is going to be for the next five years.