SNP ministers have been urged to ditch Nicola Sturgeon’s “flawed” plan to transfer responsibility for social care to a new National Care Service (NCS) after council chiefs withdrew their support.

Councils have voted to withdraw support for the Scottish government’s flagship National Care Service plan. Local government body Cosla said council leaders had concerns about proposed legislation and that several organisations - including those in the care sector - had expressed doubt over the government's approach.

Council chiefs have voted to withdraw support for the SNP Government's national care service, dealing a potentially fatal blow to the troubled bill. Local authority leaders ended their “shared accountability” deal on Friday.