THE TORIES are calling for John Swinney to remove the "respected academic" leading the independent review into last week’s exam chaos after it emerged that the Stirling University professor had urged people to vote for the SNP.
In a statement to parliament on Tuesday, the Education Secretary told MSPs that the 75,000 pupils who had their marks downgraded because of the SQA system of moderation would see those results reversed.
He also said Professor Mark Priestley would “look at events following the cancellation of the examination diet” and come back with an “initial report with recommendations on how we should go forward within five weeks.”
On election day last December, Priestley took to twitter to say he was “voting today to stop Boris Johnson. That means voting tactically. In my constituency that means a vote for the SNP. Today, please vote in the interests of the country, putting aside party loyalties.”
He also shared a tactical voting guide, saying “vote SNP or get a Tory”.
He also tweeted that supporting Neale Hanvey, who was suspended during the election over anti-Semitism, could “perhaps” be a “lesser of two evils”.
Labour MP Ian Murray said last night: “If the review isn’t properly independent it will make Mr Swinney and the First Minister’s humiliating apology a little vacuous.
“The ill-judged remarks from Professor Priestley about the SNP politician who was suspended after being accused of anti-Semitic posts require an explanation.”
Tory education spokesperson, Jamie Greene, said: “The much-heralded SNP plans for a so-called ‘independent review’ into the SQA exams fiasco have unravelled already.
“Less than 24 hours after the Greens saved Mr Swinney’s from the sack, after his second humiliating u-turn in just a few months, it looks like another scandal has engulfed the education secretary.
“Scottish parents and pupils demand a truly neutral and fully independent review into the exams fiasco. They will not put up with a whitewash.
“While Mr Priestley is a respected academic, people will rightly question the views of someone who judges that a candidate suspended by the SNP for anti-semitism is ‘the lesser of two evils’.
“If the SNP are serious about righting their wrongs over this fiasco, and if the public are to have any faith in this review, they must consider removing Mr Priestley.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Professor Priestley will conduct a wholly independent review. He is a widely respected academic with impeccable credentials.
“We are certain his review will be detailed and rigorous.”
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