SNP MSP accused of ‘weaponising' school pupils as by-election heats up

Clare Haughey shared an article criticising exam pass rates in department where Labour candidate teaches

Clare Haughey

A former SNP minister has been accused of "weaponising” school pupils to score political points as temperatures begin to rise ahead of a crucial by-election.

Clare Haughey shared an article on social media criticising the academic performance of pupils in a school department where Labour’s candidate in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, Michael Shanks, teaches.

Her tweet has since been deleted, but was endorsed by local SNP groups.

Ms Haughey, the MSP for Rutherglen, is the former minister for children and young people. She employs the SNP’s by-election candidate, Katy Loudon, in her constituency office.

Labour called on Ms Loudon to publicly condemn the attack and resign from her post with Ms Haughey.

The party’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “This extraordinary attack on schoolchildren in a pathetic attempt to score political points is nothing short of reprehensible and shows the gutter politics on which the SNP now rely.

“Katy Loudon has a choice – either she does the decent thing and resign her post with Clare Haughey or she is seen to endorse political attacks on school pupils and staff in her name. Surely Katy Loudon – who has made much over her past as a teacher before she became a political operative – knows how pathetic this attack is.

“Humza Yousaf as the SNP’s ‘First Activist’ must suspend Haughey from the party or be seen to justify attacking Scotland’s young people for political gain. The people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West need a fresh start – not a politician that weaponises school pupils to score grubby points.”

The blog article shared by Ms Haughey criticised the exam pass rates of pupils in the department where Mr Shanks teaches, and concluded: “I’m not sure then how the Labour candidate can be presented as the kind of ambitious, energetic and demanding person, the folk of Rutherglen and Hamilton West deserve as their MP.”

An SNP spokeswoman said: "Clare has removed the tweet and apologises for any offence it caused."

The Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election was called after constituents voted to sack Covid rule-breaker Margaret Ferrier, a former SNP MP. The Liberal Democrats have become the latest party to announce their candidate for the seat after selecting local activist Gloria Adebo.

However, it is widely seen as a two-party fight between the SNP and Labour.