SCOTTISH Labour will take the fight to stop education cuts and save hundreds of teaching jobs across Scotland to Holyrood today.

In the first major parliamentary test for the SNP government after its coalition with the Scottish Greens ended in acrimony, First Minister John Swinney will be called on to intervene to stop education cuts across Scottish councils as they wrestle with his government’s cuts to their budgets.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Scottish Labour’s education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy said: 

“After 17 years of the SNP, our teaching sector is in crisis.

 “We have teacher shortages in key skills areas, we’re failing to recruit enough new teachers on secure contracts and young people from the poorest backgrounds are bearing the brunt.

 “With the attainment gap persisting, these deep cuts to teaching numbers cannot be allowed to go ahead.

 “This crisis didn’t start overnight, it’s been years in the making — dating back to when John Swinney was finance minister and education minister. 

 “As finance minister he cut local government budgets meaning there is less money for schools and teachers and as education secretary he marked down thousands of working-class kids based on their background.

 “John Swinney owes it to them to act to end the cuts now.

“Enough is enough — today Scottish Labour is calling on all parties to come together to demand that these job losses are stopped and that children’s futures are protected.”

GMB rep Sean O’Neil is facing an uncertain future after funding for the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) initiative was axed alongside teaching posts in Glasgow — 172 this year and 450 over the next three. 

He told the Star: “The First Minister stands in Parliament and takes credit for increasing positive destinations outcomes of Scotland’s school leavers. 

“Make no mistake: these records were set by our hard-working members in DYW, whose jobs are currently at threat due to a delay in funding from his government. 

“Swinney is happy to take the political capital and clout that our labour makes possible.

“Now he must take responsibility, intervene in this cuts crisis to protect DYW and allow our members to maintain positive destinations for the next generation. 

“Until then, GMB will take action to defend education with our sister trade unions and the Glasgow City Parents Group.”

The Scottish government was contacted for comment.