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Proposed School Closures (Argyll)
5:28 pm
Michael Russell (Scottish National Party)
It is curious that those who have been, quite properly, vociferous in their support of rural schools should endeavour to make this issue a "political football"—to quote an earlier questioner. That is unfortunate, and it is also politically very silly. I would have thought that those who have stood up for rural schools in that way would want to be commended by the population. Instead, they appear to be against the idea of saving rural schools, even though, previously, they must have voted for the legislation. I would have hoped that the chamber would have welcomed the climb-down by the Liberal Democrat-independent administration and the decision on the Western Isles schools—Alasdair Allan is the first to do so—and would agree that the legislation is working well.