The Progressive

Tories are cluless says leading Tory MP

According to the Tory Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell MP: There is a "simple lack of thinkers" on the Conservative benches at Holyrood, they don't have the capacity to formulate their own policy independently. The next Holyrood manifesto will recycle existing policy positions and that the Scottish party "don't get" the new moderation of the Westminster party.

In a memo - leaked to the Daily Record - reveals Tory chiefs have completely lost confidence in their Scottish team, including leader Annabel Goldie. Mundell's confidential briefing to David Cameron emerged as the Tory leader prepared to head to Perth for a pre-election speech to rally the party faithful. The four-page memo claims there is a "simple lack of thinkers" among the 17 Tory MSPs and they are incapable of coming up with new policies. Mundell, an MSP from 1999 to 2005, also told Cameron that Goldie has been slated for "lack of activity" and MSPs have failed to embrace the party's moderate new approach, saying they "don't get it".

No wonder so many Tories are keen on an English parliament!

Scottish election campaign underway

The elections for Labour in the Scottish Parliament are hotting up. The Scottish National Party simply attacks England and the rest of the UK at every opportunity – that is, after all, the only policy that holds the SNP together – but other political parties are unveiling a host of new policies.

One recent proposal from the Liberal Democrats merits particular analysis: their call to abolish the first year of primary school.

The cut-back would be achieved by holding children back from school until the age of 6. Educationalists have been quick to criticise the idea. There is overwhelming evidence from many European countries – and further a field – that education at an early age produces better attainment at secondary school. Indeed, there is specific evidence to show that the intervention of trained teachers at an early stage is critical in promoting better learning throughout life.

The Lib Dem belief all that parents are better suited, equipped or motivated than schools to educate 5 and 6 year olds at home is mystifying and out of touch with the reality of family life for many people.

I’ve been highlighting the idea in the constituency of Aberdeen South where I am the Labour candidate, and it is proving very unpopular on the doorsteps. Many parents have pointed out to me that the cut-back would significantly reduce their household income as one of the parents would often we required to stay at home or only work for when their child was in nursery. I believe this would have a disproportionately adverse effect on young women who want to work.

By contract, Labour has unveiled a raft of new policies: year-on-year cuts in class sizes, a massive increase in the school rebuilding programme, and raising the school leaving age to 18 by 2012. At the same time, we will create exemptions and opportunities whereby over 16’s can leave school on the condition that they are in full time education, employment, training or volunteering.

There will be additional places in further and higher education for 16-18 year olds, thousands more modern apprenticeships and we will expand Project Scotland, a full-time, structured volunteering scheme.

The choice is clear: more schooling with Labour, or less schooling with the Lib Dems.