Ruth Davidson claims “central belt bureaucracy” is harming Tayside and Fife

Much of Scotland is having the life squeezed out of it by a “central belt bureaucracy”, according to the leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

In a speech last night, Ruth Davidson said it was time for power to be devolved down through local councils into communities as she urged Dundee to apply for a UK Government “City Deal” to boost its finances.

Citing a report by the left wing Jimmy Reid Foundation, Ms Davidson said Scotland was “the least democratic country in the European Union”, adding the country “can’t and shouldn’t be run from the M8 corridor.”

She said: “Scotland is one of the most centralised nations in the developed world and it cannot continue. A central belt bureaucracy is squeezing the life out of the rest of the country.”

Ms Davidson pointed to the deal in the west of the country, which is seeing transport and employment programmes funded to boost the local economy by £2.4 billion a year, but with decisions taken in Glasgow.

The Fifer said: “Edinburgh is about to follow suit and there is no reason why Aberdeen, or Dundee shouldn’t do so too.”