Tories brand Hyslop the weakest link for the SNP at Holyrood

Published on Wednesday 24 December 2008 08:53

TORIES today branded Education Secretary and Lothians MSP Fiona Hyslop the SNP's "weakest link" as they produced a report card on Scotland's Cabinet Secretaries.

They said Ms Hyslop had lost more votes at Holyrood than any of her colleagues.

According to the Tories' figures, the SNP minority government suffered seven defeats this year on votes for which she was responsible, including education cuts, skills strategy, jobs for teachers and kinship care.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon lost five votes, Finance Secretary John Swinney and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill three each, but Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead lost none. Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser said: "This is the season of goodwill, and in this spirit we offer as a free gift to the First Minister this end of term report card on his Cabinet members. .

"We hope this information will prove useful to the First Minister. As he watches the Christmas special of the Ann Robinson quiz show, he may well conclude: 'Fiona, you are the Weakest Link . . . goodbye'!"