IT'S TIME SNP ARE HONEST ABOUT MESS THEY MADE

Starmer tells Swinney and co to own up to financial mismanagement

- PAUL HUTCHEON

KEIR Starmer has urged the SNP government to be "honest" about the financial "mess" they find themselves in.

The Labour Prime Minister accused ministers of "desperately" trying to blame his party for its budget black hole.

The SNP government last week announced £500million of cuts in a bid to pay for publicsector pay deals.

Peak rail fares were reintroduced as part of the costsaving drive and a rollout of universal free school meals was also axed.

First Minister John Swinney has blamed Labour "austerity", but experts at the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission said "much" of his government's finance pressures were caused by their own decisions.

Speaking to the Daily Record in Downing Street, Starmer laid into the Tories for cuts the UK Government is having to make, such as slashing the Winter Fuel Payment.

However, he also hit out at the SNP, saying: "I think it's time the SNP were honest about the mess that they actually made for themselves.

"They've been in power for 17 years. They're desperately flailing around trying to blame a government of eight weeks for the mistakes that they've made.

"You saw this from the Scottish Fiscal Commission, about the responsibility the SNP have for their own finances.