Labour’s education spokesman should resign after showing a lack of “moral fibre”, a senior SNP member has said.
Stewart Hunter said the position of his counterpart Laurie Bidwell is “unsustainable” after the Labour member had showed more than “simple incompetence” in disseminating information that was “complete and utter nonsense”.
Mr Bidwell had claimed that pupils from Hillside and Gowriehill primary schools could be moved into the vacant Menzieshill High School building, which is slated for closure.
He has since privately apologised to fellow Labour councillors for making the claim, according to Mr Hunter, who said he had also received an apology from Labour, but not from Mr Bidwell himself or the party’s leadership.
Labour’s education spokesman said he welcomed Mr Hunter’s denial of the suggestion but added he had been burned in the past by putting too much faith in the promises of the SNP group.
Mr Hunter told The Courier: “The apology should have come from Mr Bidwell and should be to everyone connected with the two schools.
“His failure to do so shows a lack of moral fibre. This is not the first time Councillor Bidwell has rushed to make claims without checking his facts and allowing false rumours to be published.
“Once is an error. More than that shows this is not simply incompetence.
“I stated that if Councillor Bidwell didn’t apologise to the two schools he should consider whether he is an appropriate person to be Labour’s education spokesperson.
“He has not apologised and I now believe his position is unsustainable.”
Mr Bidwell said he was “glad” Mr Hunter had denied the claims, saying that “a double move for pupils and school staff would have been unsettling and unnecessary”.
But he added: “Members of the public should know, however, that over a lengthy period of time members of the Labour group were asking for reassurance at council meetings about the future of Menzieshill High School and were told there were no plans to close it.
“The director of education has released a report recommending closure of Menzieshill High School.
“I think parents, carers, pupils, school staff and residents associated with Menzieshill High School want to hear from Mr Hunter about whether and why he and the SNP group of councillors will be voting to support the director’s report to close their secondary school.”
He added: “All members of the education committee need to maintain a focus on what is best for the children and young people in our primary and secondary schools in Menzieshill and the wider Lochee ward, not just what will return a short-term budget saving.”