South Lanarkshire Council
Scottish unitary authority Joe Fagan formerly led.
South Lanarkshire Council's former leader, Joe Fagan, entered the race for the Scottish Labour leadership on 28 July 2026, alongside Michael Marra and Monica Lennon.
Last refreshed: 12 August 2026
Who led South Lanarkshire Council before becoming a Scottish Labour leadership contender?
Timeline for South Lanarkshire Council
Three run for Scottish Labour leader
UK Local Elections 2026Background
South Lanarkshire Council is the unitary local authority for the South Lanarkshire Council area, headquartered in Hamilton. Its area takes in Lanark, Strathaven, Carluke, Rutherglen, Cambuslang and East Kilbride, a mix of former mining towns and Glasgow commuter suburbs.
Joe Fagan led the council before stepping down to enter the Scottish Parliament, giving the authority a direct line into a national leadership contest without any change to its own day-to-day administration. The council's core business, of local services, planning and council tax, continues under his successor regardless of how that contest ends.
Fagan runs for Labour's leadership
Joe Fagan led South Lanarkshire Council before winning the South Scotland seat at Holyrood in the May 2026 elections. On 28 July 2026 he declared his candidacy for the Scottish Labour leadership, standing alongside Michael Marra and Monica Lennon.
The result is due on 19 September 2026. Whichever way it goes, the contest has no operational consequence for South Lanarkshire Council itself; Fagan's successor runs the authority regardless.