 | 'The views of the people of Elgin and the local Council have been made clear Ð they want to keep their two schools. However there is the threat from the Labour-Liberal Democrat Executive who may overrule this decision.' SNP candidate Richard Lochhead, 6 th April 2006. |  |
Today (Thursday) the SNP candidate for Moray, Richard Lochhead, launched his petition to warn the Labour-Liberal Democrat Executive in Edinburgh to not overrule the decision by the overwhelming majority in Elgin to keep their two schools.
Supporting Mr Lochhead was the Scottish Shadow Minister for Education, Fiona Hyslop MSP, who called on the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties to make clear that they would not overrule the people of Elgin, or the democratic decision taken by Moray Council Education Committee, to keep two schools in Elgin.
Commenting Mr Lochhead said:
"The views of the people of Elgin and the local Council have been made clear Ð they want to keep their two schools. However there is the threat from the Labour-Liberal Democrat Executive who may overrule this decision.
"This petition is designed to ensure that the Executive listen and make clear that they will not overrule 91% of people in Elgin and the overwhelming vote by Moray Council's Education Committee.
"The Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates may try and say that their opposition is enough. However it will only matter when their party bosses in the Executive make clear that they will not overrule Moray Council that we can all relax.
"Today I have the support of the Scottish Shadow Education Minister which shows, without a doubt, that the SNP can be trusted to stand up for Moray's schools."
Supporting Richard in his campaign Fiona Hyslop MSP said:
"The logic for merging Elgin's schools doesn't stack up. Elgin and Moray are growing areas. What happens 20 or 30 years down the road when they would require two schools again?
"Yes, we need investment in our schools but the price should not be private profit over pupils. We shouldn't be mortgaging our children's future in this way.
"It was that sort of Johnny-come-lately hypocrisy that means the Tories must be kept out of Moray and only the SNP can do that."
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