The closure of Pitcorthie Primary School has stirred up a political storm.
Douglas Chapman, the SNP’s shadow education convener in Fife, has blasted comments made by Labour MSP Cara Hilton and MP Thomas Docherty in the wake of the Scottish Government’s decision not to overturn Fife Council’s proposal to close the Dunfermline school.
They said First Minister Alex Salmond had betrayed parents, after being captured on camera holding a Save Pitcorthie Primary banner.
Mr Chapman has called their comments “beyond belief”, saying they would be the “final straw for many people who gave them support at their respective elections”.
“Since their comments on the Pitcorthie closure have been made public, I have heard so many people say they have no confidence in either representative and that they are no longer fit to hold office.
“People are telling me that if there was a way of recalling MPs and MSPs who had lost the confidence of their constituents, then these two would be heading their list.”
However, Mrs Hilton who won the Dunfermline by-election brought about by the resignation of shamed MSP Bill Walker hit back, stating: “It is hugely ironic that Mr Chapman is now championing the recall of politicians when it was his party that landed Dunfermline with the disgraced, domestic abuser Bill Walker as our MSP.”
Turning to the campaign to safeguard the school, Mr Chapman said “everyone knows” it was SNP councillors who fought tooth and nail to either save schools or get the best deal for a local community.
“The SNP have not opposed closure for opposition’s sake and we have encouraged this failing Labour administration in Fife to consider other solutions or options other than closure.”
“The closure plans for Pitcorthie, Wellwood and Crombie in west Fife were hatched in the heads of Labour councillors and the final outcome cannot be laid at the door of the SNP Government.
“The Labour-run Fife Council has pursued their closure plans through the Labour-dominated executive committee.”
But Mrs Hilton, calling the closure a devastating blow for all involved, added: “As a local councillor for the area, I have actively campaigned alongside local parents of the school to keep it open and I represented Pitcorthie parents at the executive, speaking on their behalf against closure. I am not a member of the executive committee so had no vote on the future of either Pitcorthie or any other school.
“When the regrettable decision was made by the executive to close Pitcorthie, I asked the Scottish Government to call this decision in and intervene to save the school.
“I was hopeful the decision would be overturned as I believe the consultation process was flawed throughout. Yet in spite of promises made by Alex Salmond to save the school, the SNP at Holyrood have allowed this closure to take place.”
Mrs Hilton said she knew SNP councillors also worked hard to save the school and are equally disappointed.
She added she would push the council to ensure parents are fully engaged with the process, as pupils’ education is now the priority.