Children’s primary education much more important than party politics

Sir, – The proposal to create a superhead for eight primary schools in the East Neuk and Largo has been shelved for the moment, but there is no doubt it will return if the SNP wins enough seats in the council election on May 5.

The original proposal was strongly backed by the SNP convener of education Craig Walker despite officers blindsiding councillors on his committee in September so that they did not realise they were giving the nod to this madcap trial in the East Neuk.

Only when the Labour leadership made clear they would not support the proposal – because of the massive public outcry as evidenced by my 1,900-strong change.org petition – did the SNP have no choice but to drop the proposal.

The SNP candidate in the East Neuk has been unable to give an unqualified answer to the question as to whether she would defy her party whip to back East Neuk parents in opposing any future superhead proposal. At a hustings in Crail she denied that the SNP exercises such discipline over its members and insisted she voted against her party on occasion when she was a councillor in Stirling.

I wonder if she can supply chapter and verse for these occasions, or indeed point to any instance when an SNP councillor in Fife has voted against the party line.

It is no coincidence that John Docherty, who has represented the East Neuk for the SNP for the last 10 years and who opposed the superhead proposal, is contesting this election as an independent because he wants to be untrammelled in standing up for Neuk interests.

Linda Holt. Dreel House, Pittenweem.