BAR-L TO PAY

New Barlinnie prison is also delayed 3 years

- PAUL HUTCHEON and CHRIS MCCALL

>> Opposition accuse the Nats of 'chaos' & waste'

THE SNP government has been blasted after the cost of replacing Scotland's biggest jail soared by 10 times to an "eyewatering" £1billion.

The new Barlinnie will also open three years later than planned as the project runs massively over budget.

The original estimate for building a new prison to replace the antiquated and overcrowded Bar-L was £100million before it soared to £400million.

Now the projected cost has more than doubled again.

The Scottish Government last night blamed rising costs on inflation and Brexit leading to an increase in the cost of labour and material.

But furious opposition MSPs accused the SNP government of overseeing a "chaotic" project.

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill said: "This eye watering increase is a symbol of the SNP government's record of mismanagement and chaos, waste. Our Victorian prison estate is crumbling on the SNP's watch and hundreds of prisoners are being set free to deal with overcrowding"

In a letter to Holyrood published yesterday, Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed the cost for the new HMP Glasgow will be £998.4million. The prison was supposed to open in 2025 and the latest date offered is 2028.

Constance blamed external factors such as Brexit, Covid and the war in Ukraine for the problems. She said: "It is undoubtedly a very significant capital investment that will be made by the Scottish Government. Earlier estimates were made prior to the site and the design, final design being completed, and it was also based on a much smaller prison.