SNP'S LEGACY IS 'DECADES OF DECAY

Scottish Secretary condemns the damage done by Nats to the country at Labour's UK party conference

- By Richard Elias

SCOTLAND has gone "backwards" after almost two decades of the SNP in power at Holyrood, says Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander.

He will today address the UK Labour conference in Liverpool, during which he will argue public services "are worse, not better" under the SNP. Mr Alexander will go on to accuse SNP ministers of constantly talking about issues such as independence, the rise of the right, Donald Trump and Nigel Farage simply to avoid discussion of their record in government.

Labour is hoping to oust the SNP from power in next May's Holyrood elections. But, with support dwindling for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, there are concerns the Westminster government could hinder Labour's prospects in that vote.

Mr Alexander, who is the cochairman of Labour's 2026 Holyrood election campaign, will insist there is "record investment now coming to Scotland" from the Labour government.

However, he is set to warn communities across the country still "feel that their public services are worse, not better".