MSP has Shadow brief in Lamont education team

LOTHIANS MSP Neil Findlay has been appointed Shadow Minister for Learning and Skills by new Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont.

Mr Findlay – elected to Holyrood in May – said he was delighted to be part of Shadow Education Secretary Hugh Henry’s team.

He said he had first-hand experience of almost every part of the education system. He left school at St Kentigern’s Academy, Blackburn, at 16. From there he went on a YTS course with his father’s building firm, then an apprenticeship before taking evening classes at West Lothian College. Afterwards, he studied at Strathclyde University, later taking a post-graduate teaching course at Glasgow University and working part-time as a modern studies teacher.

He said: “There’s a huge issue with the colleges just now in which I will be very actively involved.”