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Stow College chairman resigns after 'personal attack' by minister | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The chairman of Stow College in Glasgow has resigned after a row over a secretly recorded conversation. | |
Kirk Ramsay said he was stepping down following an "unwarranted personal attack" by Education Secretary Mike Russell. | |
At the weekend, the SNP minister called for Mr Ramsay to consider his position after a private discussion between them on college reforms was recorded. | |
Mr Ramsay has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the matter. | |
In a statement he said: "My resignation follows an unwarranted personal attack on me by Michael Russell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. | |
"My passion and commitment for Stow College, and the college education sector as a whole, is too great for me to allow any perceived error on my part to be allowed to inflict damage on the college, its students or staff, executives and Board. | |
"I remain firm in my belief that I have done nothing wrong and intend to clear my name. I especially look forward to meeting with the parliament's education committee should they decide to launch a formal enquiry, which I sincerely hope they do. | |
The Stow College chairman is said to have distributed a recording of discussions over controversial college sector reforms. | The Stow College chairman is said to have distributed a recording of discussions over controversial college sector reforms. |
Last week, Mr Russell issued a letter to others who were in attendance at the meeting expressing his concerns and informing them that their comments were recorded. | |
He said he no longer had confidence in Mr Ramsay. | He said he no longer had confidence in Mr Ramsay. |
Earlier on Tuesday, during question time at Holyrood, Scottish Labour's education spokesman, Hugh Henry, accused Mr Russell of "bullying" and called on him to apologise to Mr Ramsay. | |
The education secretary insisted he was right to call for the college chairman to stand down. | |
Mr Henry said: "Many staff in education and further education have contacted me to say that they are frightened to speak out about the way that the cabinet secretary is treating them. | |
"Surely the way that he has behaved to Mr Ramsay reinforces their fears." | "Surely the way that he has behaved to Mr Ramsay reinforces their fears." |
'Relationship breakdown' | |
Mr Russell responded: "The issue is that in a meeting of chairs and principals a recording was made with a surreptitious device. | |
"Alas, nobody was told it was being recorded and no permission was sought from anybody who was present. | "Alas, nobody was told it was being recorded and no permission was sought from anybody who was present. |
"I think that has led to a breakdown of the relationship that should exist between the individual concerned and, not just myself, but many of their colleagues." | "I think that has led to a breakdown of the relationship that should exist between the individual concerned and, not just myself, but many of their colleagues." |
He added: "The Scottish government believes that the college sector, like any other, needs to be led and governed by people of the highest quality and standards. | He added: "The Scottish government believes that the college sector, like any other, needs to be led and governed by people of the highest quality and standards. |
"Chief amongst their attributes must always be mutual trust and respect." | |
The board of management at Stow College said it had received Mr Ramsay's resignation "with great sadness". | |
Keith McKellar, acting chairman, added: "We accept that, in the circumstances, it is the honourable thing to do. | |
"It is typical of Kirk to put the college, its students and staff first and, by resigning, at this time he has, once again, shown his commitment to Stow College." |