THE LEADER of Glasgow’s Conservative group has stood down after 12 years at the helm of a key opposition party.

Councillor David Meikle, who will continue in his role as councillor, has been replaced by his deputy councillor Thomas Kerr.

The final decision comes after Mr Meikle’s wife, former SNP MP Natalie McGarry, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £25,600 from pro-independence organisations.

Mr Meikle said he had made the decision for family reasons.

He said: “Last month, after twelve successful and privileged years as Conservative Group leader, I intimated to my colleagues that I intended to stand down at this year’s AGM.

“With added constraints on my time due to being a parent, my desire to focus on my constituents of Pollokshields, chairing a scrutiny committee and after ten years being the sole Conservative councillor, I felt that now was an opportunity to step aside to allow other colleagues to continue my legacy.

"It has been a huge honour to serve as group leader and I will continue to be an active member.”

Councillor Thomas Kerr has now been elected to take over from Mr Meikle, making the 22-year-old the youngest group leader in Scotland.

Mr Kerr is councillor for the Shettleston ward in the East End of the city and has served as the group’s deputy since his election in May 2017.

The newly elected leader said: “I’d like to pay tribute to councillor Meikle for all the work he has done over the last two years to establish the Glasgow Conservative group as a credible opposition party dedicated to improving the lives of all Glaswegians.

“Since we were elected, Glasgow Conservative councillors have been working tirelessly to hold the SNP to account in this city by opposing their plans to implement a car park tax, fighting on behalf of teachers and parents on the issue of P1 testing, and championing fairness in council tax bills.

“I look forward to continuing to scrutinise the SNP administration in Glasgow as they lurch from crisis to crisis and, as leader of the group, plan to work constructively with opposition parties in the interests of the people of Glasgow.”