Speaking ahead of a Liberal Democrat led debate, where the party will set out the challenges facing the new Education Secretary, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott has demanded a fresh start for education.

Yesterday, the First Minister sacked Fiona Hyslop when he realised that he wouldn’t win a vote of no confidence, which the Liberal Democrats intended to lodge.

Today Mike Russell has started his new job and already signalled that fixing the broken relationship between the SNP Government and councils needs to be a priority.

Commenting, Mr Scott said:

“Mike Russell has inherited a real mess and we need a fresh start on education.

“There is a crisis in teaching. The number of teachers is dropping. Promises are being broken. The test for Mike Russell is to sort this out.

“The SNP broke their promise of smaller class sizes. The test for Mike Russell is fresh action to make it happen.

“The SNP threatened to nationalise every school in Scotland, breaking the relationship between central and local government. The test for the new Education Secretary is to rebuild a bond of trust.

“The First Minister needs to make it plain that Mike Russell has to sort all this out and deliver change or it will be his last job in government. The SNP will be judged on these tests every day between now and the election.”