Davidson attacks SNP for '˜ten years of failure' in education

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson at the last First Ministers Questions before the Council Elections.

Nicola Sturgeon has dismissed opposition claims of 'ten years of failure' in government as people in Scotland prepare to go to the polls in today's council elections.

Scotland’s political parties will make a last-ditch appeal for votes today to elect 1,200 councillors across 32 local authorities, with the ballot likely to be an indicator for the general election outcome north of the Border next month. Polls are suggesting sweeping gains for the SNP, with the Conservatives likely to beat Labour into second place, in a repeat of last year’s Holyrood election.

Scotland’s main party leaders clashed at Holyrood yesterday as the SNP marked the tenth anniversary of the 2007 election win which propelled the party to power in Scotland.

The First Minister also came under fire over her failure to introduce a 50p tax rate for top earners in Scotland, while indicating she will back one across the UK.

Labour insisted this has lead to cuts of about £130 million to direct council budgets with a knock-on on pubic services.

But Ms Sturgeon also won cheers from SNP backbenchers when she accused Tory leader Ruth Davidson of having a “constitutional obsession” because the party has been campaigning on a platform of opposing a second independence referendum.

Ms Davidson went on the attack at First Minister’s Questions yesterday, insisting there was “absolutely no acknowledgement that the failures are on her watch” from Ms Sturgeon over education shortcomings.

The loss of 4,000 teachers from Scotland’s classrooms and a decline among Scots pupils in international league tables for maths, reading and science were cited.

Ms Davidson also hit out at delays to the government’s review of schools which could see the creation of new educational regions.

The Tory leader said: “Jam tomorrow just doesn’t cut it.