Swinney challenged over teacher cuts planned for Glasgow
JOHN Swinney has been challenged over teacher cuts in schools during his first outing at First Minister’s Questions.
Both Douglas Ross of the Conservatives and Anas Sarwar of Labour demanded action to prevent the axing of 450 teachers in the city.
The call came a day after a protest in Glasgow over cuts.
Ross asked the First Minister if he would keep a promise to increase teacher numbers by 3500 by 2026. He said: “Yesterday, parents in Glasgow protested cuts to teacher numbers.
“They say they are fighting for their kids’ education because these cuts will make it, in their words, ‘ impossible for schools to support pupils properly’.”
Sarwar asked: “Will he step in and save these teachers’ jobs and protect young people’s education?”
Swinney attacked both the Tories and Labour and put the blame more generally on the UK Government, and in Glasgow highlighted actions of the Labour Party when it was in charge in the city.
He said public finances were under “enormous pressure” as a result of UK imposed austerity and inflation reduced the value of money that is available.
Swinney said under the Conservatives the country was dealing with “rampant” inflation and said the financial position for funding public services is acutely challenging and was now “very different” than in 2016 or 2021.
He said tax decisions taken by the Scottish Government meant there was £ 1 billion more available to spend than had they not been taken.
He said: “I assure parents in the city of Glasgow of the Government’s commitment to sustained investment in education and to maximise the investment we can make available.”
Responding to the Labour leader, he said the delivery of education was a matter for local councils and he wouldn’t be “instructing” councils on what to do.
On Glasgow’s budget cuts, he added: “One of the issues faced by Glasgow City Council has been the resolution of the equal pay disgrace presided over by Labour when they ran Glasgow City Council.
“Women for many years were let down. The Labour Party went to the courts to challenge lowpaid women. They should be ashamed.”
Sarwar accused the First Minister of “obfuscation” and said “fresh leadership” was needed and asked “why should Scotland accept more of the same?”.
Swinney hit back, stating: “I have news for Anas Sarwar. The fresh leadership has just arrived. I’m right here to deliver it.”
He said he was meeting with council leaders through Cosla today to discuss local government matters.