Argyll First welcome Russell initiative

The Argyll First group of councillors has issued a media statement welcoming an initiative by Michael Russell, now MSP for Argyll and Bute.

‘Being at the forefront of the campaign to save our rural schools,  Argyll First welcome the initiative by Mike Russell MSP to meet with  Argyll & Bute councillors in an effort to resolve the current situation’.

This refers to an offer made by Michael Russell earlier in the year when he was Education Secretary before the Scottish Parliament was dissolved for the Scottish election just concluded.

The offer he made then was to sit down with Argyll and Bute Council in a spirit of collegiality and help them to identify a constructive strategy for rural primary schools.

That offer was ignored.

When the result of the vote for the Argyll and Bute constituency was declared last Friday (6th May 2011) and Mr Russell had won a thumping majority of 8,390, he repeated this offer on national television in is acceptance speech.

It is this offer that Argyll First are formally welcoming. It is one Argyll at large would like to see happen.