Philip Simಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿದ ಖಾತೆ

There was only one topic which was repeatedly raised by every Holyrood party leader in 2018 - and it was education, education, education. So maybe it's the whole parliament's "top priority"...

#FMQs is over, and so is the 2018 Scottish Parliament term. As Noddy Holder famously wailed, “it’s reeeecessss”

...and we leave 2018 as we spent it, bickering noisily #FMQs

Graham Simpson asks Nicola Sturgeon about *core* council budgets; opposition MSPs jeer as she answers about “total funding settlement”. Back to the old competing interpretations of the budget, then. #FMQs

Willie Rennie calling on Jeremy Corbyn to back a “People’s Vote” - Labour benches loudly calling on the Presiding Officer to rule this has nothing to do with the FM. Nicola Sturgeon is “willing to offer my services to the Labour Party if they’re looking for some real leadership”

Willie Rennie next at #FMQs; he says UKgov is engaging in “psychological no deal warfare” over Brexit, before asking FM his weekly question about another referendum. Nicola Sturgeon says “biggest barrier” to this is Labour; “inexplicable” why they haven’t pushed confidence vote

Following BBC documentary about Sheku Bayoh case, Nicola Sturgeon says a public inquiry has “absolutely not been ruled out” - but criminal process has not yet concluded - govt will consider case carefully after it has #fmqs

Richard Leonard says criticism about education “crisis” is coming from SNP members. Nicola Sturgeon says she’s “listening carefully” to the views of teachers, numbers are going up and the attainment gap is closing #fmqs

Richard Leonard up next at #FMQs, on schools - reading out a comment from a teacher telling FM that “education is not a priority”. Nicola Sturgeon says it is, and govt is investing in schools

Jackson Carlaw says this is “classic SNP” - “one minute they’re talking tough, them two years down the line it’s all someone else’s fault”. Nicola Sturgeon says govt is “doing the hard work” to resolve issues and open door to a public sector bid to run services in future #FMQs

Jackson Carlaw says govt ministers have promised improvements to rail in the past, to no avail. Nicola Sturgeon says ScotRail is “working hard to resolve issues” and cancellations are being reduced #fmqs

#FMQs time, for the last time in 2018. And we start with a note of consensus (of sorts) as Jackson Carlaw asks if @scotrail passengers deserve an apology; yes, Nicola Sturgeon agrees, they do.

“It’s Christmas, Theo. A time of miracles.”https://twitter.com/ajjenkins/status/1075718547513446400 …