Report to the People
20th November 2006
New
Man at Top of the Class
It wasn’t just personal
feelings for the man which led politicians to express sadness that poor health
has forced Peter Peacock to resign as Education Minister.
It was also respect for the politician.
There is no doubting
Peter’s contribution to education. More
primary school pupils are now reaching the expected standards, with many
exceeding them. Over 90% of pupils
now get a Standard Grade or equivalent in English and Maths and our 15-year-olds
are amongst the world’s top for maths, science and literacy.
But the unsentimental
business of politics goes on and, no sooner has a departing Cabinet Minister bid
farewell to his civil servants, than the Ministerial merry-go-round starts to
turn.
For a change, though, who
would get the education job was not only a big question in the Holyrood village.
Given how explosive the schools debate here in Inverclyde has become, we
had a very direct interest in who took over.
Thankfully, the job has gone
to Hugh Henry - a no-nonsense west coast politician who is no stranger to
Greenock. Indeed, I have already
spoken to him to ensure he is aware of the challenges we face.
More good news for us is
that, as a result of Hugh’s promotion, Clydebank MSP and long-standing fellow
asbestos campaigner, Des McNulty, becomes Deputy Communities Minister.
There have, of course, been
Vladimir Romanov style cries about “west coast bias” from certain quarters.
But I say the more politicians from communities like ours in key
government roles the better.
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