Who is Alex Neil trying to kid on Dear Editor

It was with great amusement that I read Alex Neil MSP’s column, “Playing cheap politics with our children’s education” [Advertiser, March 22].

For sheer brass neck, that takes the biscuit.

It is his party that is playing cheap politics with their gimmick of taking funding from the council and giving it direct to local head teachers.

While the extra funding is earmarked for those pupils who need additional help, no-one has said how the head teachers should apply it.

Will they engage those who will do the work? Have they the power to do so? Will they be responsible for their National Insurance and sick pay?

What happens to these people the following year when this funding is used? Will the head teachers be responsible for redundancy payments?

Is this now to be the norm in local government? Will tradesmen and other employees be next to be “set free” of council employment? Will every car driver get a lump sum to fill a pothole on our roads?

Mr Neil’s cronies are expecting us to give them our support at this year’s local elections, but I have to ask – why should we, if they are not to be held responsible for how the rates are to be employed?

Obviously more can be saved by getting rid of our councillors and have each department receive funding direct from the Scottish Government.

First to go should be the incompetent SNP councillors for belonging to a party with such daft ideas. Seriously, how can anyone vote for them?

John Love Airdrie

Criticism Alex Neil disputes North Lanarkshire’s plans for pupil equity funding