Scottish politician (born 1971)
Susan Aitken (born November 1971) is a Scottish politician who has served as Leader of Glasgow City Council since 2017. A member of the Scottish National Party, she has been the leader of the SNP group on the council since 2014 and a councillor for the Langside ward since 2012.
Early life
Aitken was born in Biggar, Lanarkshire in November 1971 to Glaswegian parents. After attending Biggar High School, she studied English Literature at the University of Glasgow before completing a Masters Degree at the neighbouring University of Strathclyde.[1]
Originally a member of Scottish Labour, she joined the SNP in 2000, while working as a researcher in the field of health and social policy.[1]
Political career
Election to city council
Aitken was elected to represent the ward of Langside in the 2012 Glasgow City Council election.[2] In March 2014, she was made leader of the SNP Group at Glasgow City Council following the resignation of Graeme Hendry.[3]
She was re-elected as a councillor at the 2017 Glasgow City Council election where the SNP became the largest party: breaking 36 years of uninterrupted Labour Party control of Scotland's largest city. Cllr Aitken became Leader of the Council, at the head of a minority SNP administration.[4]
City council leader, 2017―present
Aitken took office as leader of the SNP-led administration on 9 May 2017, formally appointed as such on 18 May 2017,[5] and immediately wrote to COSLA on behalf of Glasgow City Council, seeking to rejoin.[6]
On 19 January 2019, Councillor Aitken’s administration announced that it would meet equal pay settlements after Court of Session ruled against Glasgow City Council in a long-running legal dispute which had begun under the previous administration, and which had been a central part of the SNP's 2017 manifesto. Workers later took part in industrial action with support of the GMB and Unison unions over delays to agree compensation payments and a new pay and benefits scheme.[7][8]
Controversies
In October 2021, when questioned by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee about council workers who had been attacked by vermin whilst collecting waste, Aitken replied: "All cities have rats."[9] She also suggested that Glasgow's waste problems were the fault of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.[10]
Proposed closure of libraries
During the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries across Glasgow closed along with other businesses. During this time, Glasgow City Council had proposed a number of closures across the city's libraries, leading to backlash from the public, campaigners and other politicians. Aitken had earlier issued assurances that no libraries across the city would close.[11]
Personal life
In 2020, Aitken was referred to the Standards Commissioner by her predecessor Frank McAveety over allegations she should have declared an interest over a £1 a year rent given to a Community interest company her husband was involved in. Aitken was later found to have broken no conflict of interest rules, having had no locus in the matter, and the Standards Commissioner cleared Aitken of any wrongdoing.[12]
