JIM Murphy has launched an impassioned defence of Catholic education, days after one of his Westminster colleagues was accused of making sneering remarks about the teaching abilities of nuns.

The Scottish Labour leader has written a letter to Philip Tartaglia, Archbishop of Glasgow and President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, in which he insists his party recognises "how important Catholic schools are to so many families and communities across Scotland."

The move follows controversy sparked by Labour's UK shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, who clashed with Christina Odone, a former editor of the Catholic Herald on the BBC's Question Time.

Ms Odone said: "The most inspiring teachers I've ever encountered were not out of teacher training college. You know what, they taught values, not British values, they taught real values." Mr Hunt interrupted, saying: "These were nuns. These were all nuns, weren't they?"

He then added: "I know about your religious schooling and there's a difference between a state education system having qualified teachers in the classroom."

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries condemned Mr Hunt's comments as "arrogant" and "sneering", saying they would put an end to Labour's chances of holding on to its Glasgow seats at the General Election.

However, in the letter to Tartaglia which coincides with Catholic Education Week, Mr Murphy said the faith's schools were "something to be celebrated".

The East Renfrewshire MP added: "As someone who benefitted from a Scottish Catholic education, I know how important faith schools are to our country. In all walks of Scottish public life - from politics to sport, from law to academia, and from science to education - the positive influence of Catholic education is evident.

"As you will already know the Scottish Labour Party is fully committed to Catholic education. As the leader of my party I wanted to reaffirm our commitment to Catholic schools in Scotland personally in writing to you today."