Monday April 20th 2026
First Minster John Swinney
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
Less than a month after Scottish government ministers again snubbed West Lothian’s request for £15m towards a new high school, the SNP has promised to do so in its election manifesto.
Now Labour council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick has written once more to First Minister John Swinney demanding an explanation.
In the letter he calls on Mr Swinney to “demonstrate openness and good grace in personally responding” to previous mail.
When Mr Fitzpatrick wrote to the First Minister in March he received a response from the Cabinet Secretary for Public Finance.
Despite several direct requests to the Scottish Government since 2023 asking for £15m towards to the new school in Blackburn the council has been stonewalled.
In his repose to councillor Fitzpatrick’s initial letter to Mr Swinney at the end of March the minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee wrote to the council leader saying: “At present, we are unable to offer additional funding through LEIP for St Kentigern’s Academy.”
In a new letter sent to Mr Swinney on Friday Councillor Fitzpatrick said: ”I would be grateful if you would demonstrate openness and good grace by personally responding to my letter of 26 March 2026.
“I have noted the specific reference to the rebuilding of St Kentigern’s on page 58 of your party’s manifesto document. As Council Leader, I would like to enquire what this specifically means for West Lothian Council given the significant financial impact RAAC has had on our learning estate.”
He added: “It is the case that your Cabinet Secretary for Education, Ms Gilruth gave a clear undertaking to Councillor Andrew McGuire, Education Executive Chair and I when she visited the school and met us that the desperately needed £15million would be provided. In the absence of that money, we have had to borrow £15million, annual repayment costs impacting adversely on the school’s budget.
“As stated, follow up letters to Ms Gilruth have been ignored.”
The school saw 60% of its original buildings demolished after RAAC roofing panels were discovered three years ago. A new school building opened at the start of the new term last week.
West Lothian Council had paid £20m to wards the building but faces having to borrow the extra £15m needed to foot the £35 million total bill. That would cost the council £30 over £20 years.
In his March letter to the First Minister, Councillor Fitzpatrick highlighted the Scottish Government’s pledge to offer £20m towards a new opera house in Edinburgh.
Mr McKee had responded on 30 March to highlight that the SNP administration had already invested heavily in new schools in West Lothian through education development programmes.
The SNP has been contacted for a response.
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