The TimesJACK McCONNELL was accused of sexism yesterday after he said that striking female nursery nurses were being manipulated by men on either side of the dispute.
The Scottish Socialist MSP Carolyn Leckie, who has been a vocal supporter of the nursery nurses, accused the First Minister of "outrageous, patronising sexism".
She added: "To suggest that the nursery nurses are still on strike today because of anything other than their own will, determination and the justice of their case is an outrageous insult to these brave and courageous women.
"Yet again Jack McConnell is doing his Pontius Pilate impersonation, washing his hands of any responsibility for this dispute. The fact of the matter is that the First Minister and the Scottish Executive could end this dispute tomorrow morning if they told Cosla to settle."
