THE spotlight has rarely been shone so starkly on a single minister as it was in Holyrood yesterday.
John Swinney faced a no-confidence motion following a public outcry over the downgrading of the exam grades given to 75,000 pupils by a computerised system set up to moderate the results.
Like Alex Neil, Sarah Boyack and Sam Galbraith – who all endured no-confidence votes before him – he survived.
The Scottish Greens had said they would not back the motion, so the Deputy First Minister knew he would not be forced from his frontbench role (though even if he had lost the vote, he could technically remain in his post).
But it was a painful session for the veteran politician who sat stony-faced throughout the debate, his peers dissecting his strengths and weaknesses under full public glare.
Nicola Sturgeon delivered warm words, describing her deputy as “one of the most decent and dedicated people in Scottish politics” and “probably the most honourable individual” she had ever known. She expressed confidence in Swinney, argued it was a strength to admit a mistake and once again apologised to pupils.
“The last few days have been more difficult than they should ever have been for many young people in Scotland. I know that, and I am sorry, and so is John Swinney,” she said.
“I readily acknowledge that we focused too much on the system and not enough on individuals.”
She did not, however, heap fulsome praise on his tenure in the key job.
Of course, the First Minister and her MSPs turned their ire on the Scottish Tories, who she argued were attacking the Scottish Government’s handling of the exam situation while their own party in charge in London was presiding over a similar scandal.
It’s a snappy political argument but conveniently one which surely misses the point that devolution allows the devolved nations to create different policies – and exam grade moderation systems – from those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon defends John Swinney in no-confidence vote
Time will tell what happens to Swinney’s position. SNP figures have privately said he is “walking wounded”. What prevented the crisis from escalating even further was the fairly speedy decision to restore the teachers’ grades. Inevitably the Education Secretary is protected from the huge command the SNP have in the polls.
But the episode has stung the party and the Scottish Government and the First Minister will be anxious no other serious problems arise in the education beat – particularly with an election around the corner.
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