END THE BLAME GAME

Sarwar urges First Minister not to fritter the windfall away and ensure Scots will benefit | Swinney says he wants money to end two-child cap

- CHRIS MCCALL

THE First Minister has been told "more of the same won't cut it" after his government was handed a £3.4billion boost this week.

John Swinney was challenged by Anas Sarwar to "end the blame game" and invest in public services following the funding announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday.

The Scottish Labour leader claimed Swinney was "desperate to be disappointed" by the UK Budget but had been left with little to complain about.

And Reeves yesterday insisted the SNP administration "now need to deliver" after she set out Labour's plans for extra spending that boosted the cash coming to Holyrood.

But Swinney insisted that while it was a "step in the right direction" it would also "prolong the agony" for some Scots. Swinney told MSPs: "Where my regret comes from is the fact, in the financial estimates set out by the Chancellor, she's indicated over the course of a three-year period there will be a £10billion surplus in the Budget.

"But she wasn't able to find a single penny to lift the two-child cap that is putting and forcing families into poverty in our country today, and I regret that very deeply.

"While there are welcome steps in the Budget, there are issues that will prolong the agony of individuals in our society, and a Labour Government should address that and right the wrongs they're presiding over now." Sarwar said he had been clear that the UK Government could not "fix every Tory mess" in one Budget.

The Labour leader added: "After 14 years of Tory chaos, division and decline, it was a transformative and game-changing Budget for Scotland.

"It delivers on the promises made in the election, ends the era of austerity, provides vital new investment for our public services and prioritises economic growth.

"It includes the largest block grant settlement to the Scottish Parliament in the history of devolution.