A row between a local MSP and West Lothian Council over teacher numbers and education funding moved into its second week ahead of the crucial council budget vote on February 21.
Senior council officials backed up the head of the education executive in asserting that West Lothian had used all the funds allocated to hire staff, and had spent its own cash to increase teacher numbers by 149 since 2019.
The response came as the Scottish Government attempted to shore up its late intervention on plans by many Scottish councils to either cut the school day or reduce teacher numbers in the face of harsh budget demands.
