Many a puffed-up Scottish nationalist is wont to brag that our folk are innately more virtuous than others which is often a code for our English friends and neighbours.

Such ‘we’re better than them’ crowing is almost always groundless, consistent with small-minded nationalism the world over and best dealt with by being laughed at.

So there’s rich irony in recognising that the party of faux Scottish exceptionalism is responsible for trashing an example of actual Scottish exceptionalism – that being our once world-leading education system.

It was the SNP who decided to reject knowledge-based learning and embrace nonsense such as filling children’s minds with an exciting menu of genders they might like to pick from.

Their disdain for the three Rs, along with a breakdown in classroom discipline and a trade union death grip choking any bright ideas to make things better for pupils, has resulted in Scottish education being toppled from its podium and poorer kids being left even further behind.

Having plummeted down global rankings, far too many Scots are overshadowed by their English peers due in large part to the bold reforms of the previous UK Conservative government.

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As Scottish Conservative leader, I’m determined to not only spotlight this scandalous betrayal of our children but do whatever we possibly can to stop and reverse this downwards descent into miserable mediocrity.

I’m acutely aware that the SNP, along with Anas Sarwar’s Labour and the other left-wing Holyrood parties, are unable and unwilling to take on an all-powerful educational establishment.........

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