McConnell asks exams boss to go

Graham Houston will chair the SQA for the next four years

Scotland's former first minister has led calls for an SNP council chief to quit as the new chairman of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Stirling Council leader Graham Houston is due to take up the four-year part-time post next month.

Jack McConnell said the move compromised the exam body's need to remain independent of party politics.

But Mr Houston dismissed the accusations, and told BBC Scotland he had no intention of stepping down.

Mr McConnell is now expected to raise the issue with his successor, Alex Salmond.

Liberal Democrat Nicol Stephen, who served alongside Mr McConnell as deputy first minister in the last Scottish Government, also appealed to Mr Houston to quit the SQA.

This is a fundamentally daft point by Jack McConnell

Spokesman for Fiona Hyslop

The call was backed by the Conservatives.

Mr McConnell, as education minister, dealt with the aftermath of the Scottish exams debacle in 2000 when thousands of pupils received late, incomplete or incorrect results.

He said one of the key recommendations to come out of the fiasco was that the exam board should, in future, be seen to be politically independent.

Insisting his attack was not personal, Mr McConnell said of the appointment: "It's wrong in principle, because the SQA should be an independent body, but it's also wrong in practice, because there's a conflict between the active political role of Mr Houston on Stirling Council, and the independent public role as chair of the SQA."

Delivering a message to Mr Houston, the Motherwell and Wishaw MSP added: "I am asking him, I'm pleading with him today to recognise that conflict and make it easy for everybody involved - withdraw the application and allow the minister to make a new appointment."

'Leadership ability'

Mr Houston told BBC Scotland he "recognised concerns" about a potential clash surrounding his SQA position, which carries a salary of �13,439 for a minimum commitment of 52 days a year.

But he insisted he took the proper advice before applying for the position on the basis of his previous experience.

All the relevant information, Mr Houston stated, had been disclosed, adding: "There is nothing secret in this".

He also said that, if any conflict was to arise, alternative arrangements could be made at Stirling Council.

Mr Houston's SQA appointment was announced by Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop, who said he would bring a wealth of experience and leadership ability to the role.

The Scottish Government also insisted that all public appointments were made on merit, with political activity playing "no part" in the selection process.

A spokesman for Ms Hyslop said: "This is a fundamentally daft point by Jack McConnell.

"The SQA is responsible for national exams, not Stirling exams, and there is no conceivable conflict of interest."