Islanders launch legal challenge over Mull school location
A spokesperson for the group said that the council's approach has been 'shoddy and biased' and that they have been left with 'no option' but to pursue legal action.
Argyll and Bute Council has faced significant criticism over its decision to locate the proposed new school in Tobermory, the main town on the island. The current school, also in Tobermory, incorporates a nursery, primary and secondary school, but surveys have shown that a majority supported moving the high school component to a central location in order to end the practice of some children being sent to board in Oban from the age of eleven.
Throughout the process, the council has insisted that only a single-site approach is viable, and officials ultimately recommended the new school be built on a site on the southern edge Tobermory. This advice was accepted by councillors at a special sitting of the council in Lochgilphead.
The situation has been described as an example of a 'wider democratic deficit' in Scotland, and islanders have told The Herald that the council has left them feeling 'silenced and belittled.'
The move to build a new school was originally referred to as the 'Mull Campus Project', but recent communication from council officials has stated that 'the Tobermory Campus project is focussed on creating an improved and enhanced learning environment for the pupils within the current Tobermory High School catchment area.'
The new legal action, being pursed by the Mull Campus Working Group, argues that the council's decision to limit itself to consideration of a single site, and the consequent narrowing of any consultation work, was 'inherently unfair'.
They also believe that the council acted 'irrationally' in failing to properly consider the offer of free land at a central location, and allege councillors were misinformed about the offer itself.
Finally, the group are challenging the failure to hold a formal vote on the proposals which they say contravenes the council's constitution.
The campaigners say that they were 'warned not to challenge' the council's decision to locate the new school in Tobermory, and that delays to the programme could 'jeopardise Scottish Government funding,' which they described as being told to accept the plans as they are or risk getting 'nothing at all'.
Building projects funded through the government's Learning Estate Improvement Programme (LEIP) scheme, which is being used for the new school on Mull, operate under set – and theoretically strict – deadlines, but education secretary Jenny Gilruth has confirmed in a letter to local MSP Jenni Minto that 'funding will not be withdrawn if the project faces delays, provided there is a clear and robust justification for Ministers to grant an extension to the completion date.'
The government recently announced an additional £2million for another LEIP project – a new Gaelic primary school in Glasgow – to ensure that it is completed, with the project running many months behind schedule.
A spokesperson for the Mull Campus Working Group said the council's processes were 'shoddy and biased from the outset'.
The continued: 'Before the LEIP (Learning Estate Investment Programme) application was even submitted, our community council asked to be consulted, but they were refused any input.
'The people of Mull - and in particular families and children from the Ross of Mull who currently cannot access the island's only high school – were cruelly deceived. What was sold to them as 'a school for the whole island' was never intended to be any such thing.
'We naively trusted our councillors and officials to look at this fairly, and deliver a high school that was accessible to all. But they have manipulated the process to make sure it would never be delivered. In effect they said 'sure, you can have your central high school, but only if we remove primary and ELC provision from Mull's largest town and move it 21 miles away'
'That's not a choice, that's moral blackmail.'
The campaigners say that attempts to find a mediated solution to the impasse were 'dashed' when the council refused to attend a roundtable event being organised by local Jenni Minto. They told The Herald that they had 'hoped for the best but prepared for the worst,' and that the council's decision to 'shut the door on a negotiated, constructive way forward' has left them 'no option but to take this to the Court of Session in Edinburgh.'
Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Government have been approached for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Islanders launch legal challenge over Mull school location
A spokesperson for the group said that the council's approach has been 'shoddy and biased' and that they have been left with 'no option' but to pursue legal action. Argyll and Bute Council has faced significant criticism over its decision to locate the proposed new school in Tobermory, the main town on the island. The current school, also in Tobermory, incorporates a nursery, primary and secondary school, but surveys have shown that a majority supported moving the high school component to a central location in order to end the practice of some children being sent to board in Oban from the age of eleven. Throughout the process, the council has insisted that only a single-site approach is viable, and officials ultimately recommended the new school be built on a site on the southern edge Tobermory. This advice was accepted by councillors at a special sitting of the council in Lochgilphead. The situation has been described as an example of a 'wider democratic deficit' in Scotland, and islanders have told The Herald that the council has left them feeling 'silenced and belittled.' The move to build a new school was originally referred to as the 'Mull Campus Project', but recent communication from council officials has stated that 'the Tobermory Campus project is focussed on creating an improved and enhanced learning environment for the pupils within the current Tobermory High School catchment area.' The new legal action, being pursed by the Mull Campus Working Group, argues that the council's decision to limit itself to consideration of a single site, and the consequent narrowing of any consultation work, was 'inherently unfair'. They also believe that the council acted 'irrationally' in failing to properly consider the offer of free land at a central location, and allege councillors were misinformed about the offer itself. Finally, the group are challenging the failure to hold a formal vote on the proposals which they say contravenes the council's constitution. The campaigners say that they were 'warned not to challenge' the council's decision to locate the new school in Tobermory, and that delays to the programme could 'jeopardise Scottish Government funding,' which they described as being told to accept the plans as they are or risk getting 'nothing at all'. Building projects funded through the government's Learning Estate Improvement Programme (LEIP) scheme, which is being used for the new school on Mull, operate under set – and theoretically strict – deadlines, but education secretary Jenny Gilruth has confirmed in a letter to local MSP Jenni Minto that 'funding will not be withdrawn if the project faces delays, provided there is a clear and robust justification for Ministers to grant an extension to the completion date.' The government recently announced an additional £2million for another LEIP project – a new Gaelic primary school in Glasgow – to ensure that it is completed, with the project running many months behind schedule. A spokesperson for the Mull Campus Working Group said the council's processes were 'shoddy and biased from the outset'. The continued: 'Before the LEIP (Learning Estate Investment Programme) application was even submitted, our community council asked to be consulted, but they were refused any input. 'The people of Mull - and in particular families and children from the Ross of Mull who currently cannot access the island's only high school – were cruelly deceived. What was sold to them as 'a school for the whole island' was never intended to be any such thing. 'We naively trusted our councillors and officials to look at this fairly, and deliver a high school that was accessible to all. But they have manipulated the process to make sure it would never be delivered. In effect they said 'sure, you can have your central high school, but only if we remove primary and ELC provision from Mull's largest town and move it 21 miles away' 'That's not a choice, that's moral blackmail.' The campaigners say that attempts to find a mediated solution to the impasse were 'dashed' when the council refused to attend a roundtable event being organised by local Jenni Minto. They told The Herald that they had 'hoped for the best but prepared for the worst,' and that the council's decision to 'shut the door on a negotiated, constructive way forward' has left them 'no option but to take this to the Court of Session in Edinburgh.' Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Government have been approached for comment.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Aberdeen University students in trans row publish open letter
An open letter published several weeks ago details a range of issues; including the posting of 'transphobic hate material' on a break room noticeboard and the vandalism of trans-inclusive and anti-racist posters with 'penis stickers'. Trans righs have come to the fore at many universities. (Image: Unsplashed) The letter also calls for a 'concrete action plan' from university management, asking for 'the implementation of disciplinary processes for people who break school policies on discrimination and harassment', an 'externally-led diversity and inclusion audit', and 'mandatory trans-inclusive EDI training for all staff'. The Herald understands that issues between gender-critical and trans-inclusive academics and students in the department have festered for years, and have intensified over the last eighteen months. A public controversy ensued in February 2024 when SBS management invited prominent gender critical broadcaster Simon Fanshawe to lead a session on diversity training. The event with the academic and writer, who also serves as the Rector of Edinburgh University, was cancelled a week later after backlash by students and staff within the school. Fanshawe, who co-founded Stonewall in 1989, has rubbished the LGBT rights charity in recent years, labelling it as a "propaganda machine" which 'preaches extreme and divisive gender ideology under the guise of 'factual' information'. Academic and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe In an open letter originally published in May 2024, students involved with the 'Decolonising SBS' group wrote: 'We insist you offer an apology to students and staff in SBS for the organisation of the event, as well as an explanation as to why this event was cancelled, and take concrete steps to ensure future decisions on EDI issues are handled appropriately and transparently.' Now, a year later, students say their requests have been ignored. A statement reads: 'As of the 23 of April, 2025, we have yet to receive any response. We believe the continued silence of School management requires us to publish the below letter and invite students and academics who support our demands to add their names in solidarity. 'We hope that doing so will highlight to our department the urgent-course correction needed to rebuild trust and ensure the safety and well-being of the School's transgender students and staff in line with university policy and UK equality law.' The updated letter has been signed by more than 250 students and academics from across the UK. Read more from Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco: My trek up the Royal Mile — what do tourists say about Scotland's capital? Calls to bring back this 'unique' detail in Princes Square shopping centre How much has new trains procurement cost taxpayers? Scot Gov refuses to say Meanwhile, students have spoken out about their experiences on social media. PhD candidate Rowan Kuminski wrote on Bluesky: 'Aberdeen Uni has the nerve to knowingly let its staff bully, harass, and attack trans people and refuses to abide by its own Transgender Equality Policy, then raises a Pride flag as if that erases the trauma and harm they continue to cause.' Fellow student Jack Barber posted to X: 'It's Pride month, meaning my uni has the rainbow merch out in force; unfortunately they care more about looking inclusive than protecting queer staff and students.' Christina Schmid, president of the university's student association, told The Herald: 'The Students' Union stands with students who have raised concerns through this open letter. We recognise the seriousness of the issues highlighted and share their call for a more inclusive and respectful learning environment for all especially for trans and non-binary students. We have been liaising with the University to ensure these concerns are taken seriously and addressed meaningfully. As a signatory to the letter, we fully support the call for action and accountability. We will continue to advocate for transparency, appropriate support, and a culture where all students feel safe and respected.' There have been a range of protests in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision (Image: NQ) Responding to The Herald's request for comment, a University of Aberdeen spokesperson said the institution had commissioned an independent review of the complaints. The spokesperson noted: 'The University takes its strategic commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion extremely seriously, including promoting and championing the rights of trans staff and students as well as respecting the rights of individuals in respect of their protected beliefs. 'This commitment resulted in the commissioning of an independent investigation in relation to issues raised by some staff and students within the School. The results are currently being reviewed to determine the appropriate next steps and members of the management team have engaged with all those involved throughout the process.' The public row comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman in late April. Bosses at Scotland's largest universities are considering the fallout of the decision on their policies on transgender inclusion and single-sex spaces. A spokesperson for Edinburgh University said that their guidelines, which currently permit individuals to use toilets which correspond with their gender identity, would be reviewed with 'compassion' and 'legal rigour'. A Glasgow University spokesperson said the institution was 'actively considering' the ramifications of the ruling.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
How Labour beat the odds — and rocked the SNP
To be fair to the press pack, it was not just the commentators, pundits and bookies who rubbished the party's prospects in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. Some of the criticism came from inside the tent. Last week, one Labour insider told The Times the party should expect to get 'quite considerably humped'. Another told the Record: 'It was supposed to be a two-horse race between Labour and the SNP, but we selected a donkey and look like coming third.' Jackie Baillie, Anas Sarwar and Davy Russell (Image: Colin Mearns/The Herald) The thing about donkeys though, is they are known for being sure-footed, steady and persistent — especially when the going gets tough. Mr Russell, a well-known local figure who had been dismissed by some as the 'invisible man' after swerving media appearances and hustings, proved quietly effective. READ MORE The by-election was triggered by the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie in March. She was just 57 and had been on leave following a stage two breast cancer diagnosis. In 2021, Ms McKelvie won the seat with 46% of the vote and a majority of 4,582. Labour's victory was narrow — they took 31% of the vote, winning by just 602 votes. The SNP's Katy Loudon took 29.4%, while Reform UK came a close third, with 26.2%. It was, in the end, unquestionably a three-horse race. 'At the start, we were not picking up a lot of support for Reform,' one Labour MSP said. 'And that did change. Reform supporters became more vocal and visible at the start of the by-election. I think, truthfully, what everyone was hearing is that the voters were happy with none of us. That is really how it started.' But that presented the party with an opportunity. 'We were able to really promote Davy as a local champion — somebody who will stand aside from what is going on nationally and just be at a grassroots level, take up the issues of the people here and really fight for them. 'We saw a glimpse of that when Davy was at a visit and journalists were there and he was asked about Winter Fuel Payments. He said this should be reinstated across the board. He did not look for lines to take — he just said what he believed. And I think people like that.' The party source also said not to underestimate the power or popularity of lawn bowls in South Lanarkshire. Mr Russell is a keen bowler, playing to a high standard. He was due to take part in a big international tournament on Saturday. Behind the win was what Labour insisted was a textbook ground operation. 'We worked unbelievably hard to get our voters out,' Labour's Michael Marra told The Herald on Sunday at Friday's victory rally. 'The numbers in the result were the numbers we were seeing in our campaign. So in that respect, I was not surprised. 'But given everything that has been said against us in recent months, it is a big change — a shift in momentum towards the Labour Party — and it means there is now the real prospect of a Scottish Labour government next year.' By polling day, Labour's campaign had identified 7,000 likely supporters — and then mobilised an army of activists to get them to the ballot box. Labour spin doctor Ollie Milne, Anas Sarwar, Party general secretary Kate Watson, and MP Joani Reid (Image: PA) 'We would have known about a lot of postal voters who had already told us they had voted Labour, so we would not have gone back to their doors in the final days or on polling day. Polling day was really focusing on people who were Labour promises,' one campaign insider said. That highly targeted get-out-the-vote strategy paid off. 'We had big teams of Labour students, people from the local party, neighbouring constituencies as well — lots of Lanarkshire members and councillors out — but also people from all over the country, including Scottish Parliament candidates, who understood that a Labour defeat in this by-election would have been bad for their campaigns. A Labour victory would really turbo-boost their own.' READ MORE There is still some anger in the party about the SNP's treatment of Mr Russell. 'It was really unfair,' one source said. 'Some of our opponents said Davy was in hiding, but he was on the doorstep.' There are some in the SNP who believed the party's attacks on Mr Russell went too far — made their campaign seem 'middle class' and detached — and ultimately backfired. 'We played the man, not the ball,' said one MSP, asked why they thought the party had fallen short. Others, however, are not letting his victory get in the way of their aspersions. Former SNP MP John Nicolson took to social media to suggest Mr Russell — a former senior council official in Glasgow, responsible for a team of 2,000 workers — would not be clever enough for Holyrood. The ex-broadcaster said Mr Russell would find committee work 'a struggle'. 'But brighter members will cover for him, at least initially,' he added. Party activists watch the counters at Thursday's by-election count (Image: PA) Polling expert Mark Diffley said the result should not have surprised those looking at the numbers in recent polls. 'The SNP has lost on average 15 percentage points in the polls between 2021 and now, and Labour has only lost two,' he said. 'Cards on the table, I thought the SNP would win narrowly, because actually their vote share in Hamilton went down by more than what the average opinion polling is telling us — by about three points. 'And had they gone down by what I thought — 13 or 14 points — they would have won the seat. 'I also think, you know, some politicians said this was a two-horse race. That was really never going to be the case. I think a lot of people did get sucked in. It was always going to be close.' In his final appeal to voters, Mr Swinney said voting for the SNP was a chance to 'defeat the gutter politics of Nigel Farage'. Speaking to journalists, he said Labour were 'out of it' and it was a straight fight between his party and Reform. 'I think the First Minister framed it like that because he wanted to appeal to Labour voters,' Mr Diffley added. 'It was the Labour voters that decided this election. They got 32% in 2021. Where were they going to go? And it turns out a lot of them stayed with Labour.' Reform's Thomas Kerr said the First Minister's comments undoubtedly helped his candidate, Ross Lambie. 'It highlighted us — got us more publicity than what we were getting. The more John Swinney and Anas Sarwar were talking about Reform, the better we were going to do, because people saw it as a sort of cynical political establishment stitch-up against us.' Reform candidate Ross Lambie, deputy leader Richard Tice and Cllr Thomas Kerr (Image: PA) 'I think everyone who was listening to John Swinney's spin on this will now take what he says with a massive pinch of salt,' Mr Marra said. 'The campaign the SNP ran, trying to embolden and push Reform forward at every opportunity, was not just disingenuous in terms of the result — it was also dangerous, let us be clear about that. 'It was a strategy to get them to 2026, to not talk about their record — about the state of our hospitals, about NHS waiting lists, about the state of our schools. I do not think that is now an approach that can hold.' However, Mr Kerr was willing to give the First Minister the benefit of the doubt. 'I am willing to take John Swinney at his word,' the Glasgow councillor added. 'I do think he genuinely thought that was the case. I do not think he was playing games. I genuinely think he was a bit shaken about the support Reform was getting.' At his press conference on Friday, Mr Swinney insisted there had been progress for his party, when the result was measured against their dire performance at last year's general election. 'Last summer, I think people would have doubted the SNP could have been in contention to win a by-election in Hamilton after the severe loss we suffered. But we were in contention. We were not strong enough to win, but we were in contention — and we will build on that.' 'There has been progress — but that, in of itself, is not enough,' one SNP MSP told The Herald on Sunday. 'The party needs to stop talking to itself and take a step back and reflect on ordinary people's perspective. It should have been doing that years ago. Here we are a good way through some really tough times — where people are hanging on by their fingernails — and we have been tinkering. 'It simply cannot be enough to rely on Labour to fail.' They said it was time for Mr Swinney to make changes in his top team. 'I think a proper ministerial reshuffle is required, and an exercise undertaken to seek new policies. For example, I would call in the former MPs who have experience but have had time to refresh their perspective. 'I can sense that many — for the first time — are now nervous, and rightfully so. 'On independence — again, it can never be enough to simply run a competent devolved government without a vision of what could be.' On Friday, Mr Swinney said he would 'consider all issues around the ministerial team'. Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Màiri McAllan, he added, would return from maternity leave soon. READ MORE Another senior SNP insider said they were not surprised by the defeat. 'I knew that we were going to lose it. What was the reason to vote SNP? We are not inspiring anybody on independence, because we are not talking about it — and it is nowhere to be seen in the party's message. 'Then we are pitching ourselves against Reform in a way that I think is totally unhelpful — and it backfired massively. It is almost like trying to replace the old SNP v Tory or SNP v Labour strategy. 'You cannot do that with a party that has never been in government — that does not carry that baggage — that does not have that resentment. 'People are voting Reform from all directions, including many former SNP voters. What is the reason for SNP? Well, it is independence.' (Image: PA) 'I think it is really disappointing the way the leadership has chosen just not to talk about what the SNP stands for,' they added. 'It is a very odd thing. I joined in 2007 when Nicola and Alex were the joint ticket and was very much attracted to that partnership because it spoke to different parts of Scotland. 'Right now we have got John and Kate, who are, I think, speaking to one part of Scotland. I am not sure they are talking to everybody.' While they thought Mr Swinney's leadership was safe, they predicted the internal elections for key posts — national secretary, party president, maybe even depute leader — could get 'spicy'. 'I think we will see some movements in those spaces.'
