Lib Dems challenge West Lothian SNP candidates to back fair funding for the St Kent’s rebuild

Press release 

Thursday 26 February 2026 

Embargo: none 

Lib Dems challenge West Lothian SNP candidates to back fair funding for the St Kent’s rebuild. 

At their conference in Edinburgh this past weekend, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have condemned the Scottish Government’s neglect of school buildings across Scotland, drawing particular attention to the funding crisis for the rebuild of vital West Lothian school, St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn. 

St Kent’s was built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the 1970s and safety concerns mean that a £35M rebuild is now underway. 

West Lothian council tax payers can fund £20M but West Lothian Council has asked the SNP Scottish Government to fund the remaining £15M. Lib Dem West Lothian councillor, Cllr Sally Pattle, was amongst the first to call for the Scottish Government to step up and support this essential project. 

Despite cross-party calls for action, the SNP Government has stubbornly refused to help. Stephen Harte, Scottish Lib Dem candidate for Bathgate in May and former pupil of St Kent’s, told Lib Dem Party Conference that this was typical of the neglectful SNP Government:

“The SNP Government has refused to help fund the St Kent’s rebuild and instead trots out tired old constitutional arguments, blaming Westminster as usual rather than taking responsibility for Scottish Education. Having local SNP MSPs has made no difference at all. If the SNP are serious about representing West Lothian in May, I call for their candidates to join the cross-party campaign for fair funding for the St Kent’s rebuild.” 

Sharing her disappointment at the lack of action from the SNP, Caron Lindsay, Scottish Lib Dem candidate for Almond Valley, has reminded West Lothian voters that we can vote for change in May: 

“As little as 6% of votes on the peach ballot paper could elect a Lib Dem list MSP in May. Latest polls show the Lib Dems getting higher than 6% across Scotland. By voting Lib Dem on the peach ballot Paper, voters in West Lothian can send a Lib Dem MSP to Holyrood to demand action from Scottish Government on issues like this.”

[END] 

Note to editors 

St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn is in the new Bathgate constituency for the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026 but its catchment area includes pupils from the neighbouring Almond Valley constituency too. 

Contacts: 

Stephen Harte 07854 954954 

Published by: 

Douglas Butler on behalf of Stephen Harte, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Bathgate, 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12, 5DR. 

Charles Dundas on behalf of Caron Lindsay, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Almond Valley, 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12, 5DR.