John Swinney isn’t fooling anyone by trying to pretend his local government reorganisation “isn’t about centralisation”.

Of course it is, John.

If you create 120 to 160 too-wee-to-matter village dramatic societies (or whatever you’ll call them) it makes it far easier for central government to ignore them.

Take away their power, it becomes your power.

Starve them of public money, it becomes yours to spend.

I’ve also heard people say Mr Swinney must identify what problems he’s trying to solve before suggesting solutions.

I think the main problems are obvious – duplication of services over small areas, and the needless expense that creates.

John’s plan cures neither of these things – it makes them worse.

The solution to both is to streamline.

It is clear that ancient ideas on council areas must be swept away,........

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