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Tories brand Hyslop the weakest link for the SNP at Holyrood

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Published Date: 24 December 2008
TORIES today branded Education Secretary and Lothians MSP Fiona Hyslop the SNP's "weakest link" as they produced a report card on Scotland's Cabinet Secretaries.
They said Ms Hyslop had lost more votes at Holyrood than any of her colleagues.

According to the Tories' figures, the SNP minority government suffered seven defeats this year on votes for which she was responsible, including education cuts, skills strategy, jobs for teachers and kinship care.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon lost five votes, Finance Secretary John Swinney and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill three each, but Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead lost none. Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser said: "This is the season of goodwill, and in this spirit we offer as a free gift to the First Minister this end of term report card on his Cabinet members. .

"We hope this information will prove useful to the First Minister. As he watches the Christmas special of the Ann Robinson quiz show, he may well conclude: 'Fiona, you are the Weakest Link . . . goodbye'!"





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  • Last Updated: 24 December 2008 10:50 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Auld Twa,

Edinburgh 24/12/2008 11:35:43
After a year and a half waiting in vain for the SNP government to collapse the media (and opposition) have decided to try a new tack.
Pick on ministers and see if they can be destroyed individually. Don't think that ploy will work any better as the whole cabinet can deploy their resources behind any minister chosen for this treatment.
Remember though that Gordon Brown said that "I will do anything that is needed to maintain the union." so we have a good idea, after the Glenrothes campaign to what depths the unionist parties will descend.
2

Alan B,

24/12/2008 11:46:10
The tories under goldie in scotland have built up some credibility due to a more mature approach from the dreadful labour party.

But stunts like this make them look silly.
3

Alan B,

24/12/2008 13:51:29
#Joe

As you are obviously not aware one of the issue round the Glenrothes byelection was labour claims of education cuts.

When the new labour mp challenged on tv prior to the election he claimed the snp had made education cuts. The interviewer then quoted the figures showing an increase not a cut. The labour candidate then freely admitted he did not actually know the figures.

However even on his election victory he repeated this lie despite now knowing that he has been ill informed by labour hierarchy and being a headmaster should have known about the situtation round education.

Deeper inspection did show a cut but before the snp and under labour. The snp has reversed the cut by increasing the education spend.

That shows that labour are quite happy to lie to the electrate to win.

To all decent people who are not attached to political parties we must condemn such behaviour as againt democracy and the spirit of democracy. Unfortunely labour tends to mean gutter politics.

4

Brian Hill,

Edinburgh 24/12/2008 16:00:18
By the sounds of this article the entire SNP Government should resign and allow sensible people like Mr Gray and Ms Goldie to run the country.

They must be terribly frustrated that the public, despite 'gettin telt' week in and week out by said Mr Gray and Ms Goldie, still hold to the VERY mistaken belief that the SNP is doing a fantastic job for Scotland!

Ridiculous I know but there it is, the polls consistently say the SNP leads Labour (I understand Tories barely register).
5

Edward,

24/12/2008 16:36:57
Panto time, same story in the Times, but its Labour who are saying that Fiona Hyslop is the weakest link
Scotsman obviously trying to alter the Labour breifing
6

KampungHighlander,

Jakarta 26/12/2008 09:59:01
Claims of the weakest link from a Party that could not even get their deposit back from the Glenrothes bye-election. Very funny. I didn't realize the Tories had a sense of humour.






 

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