Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay today said John Swinney’s “broken promises” were leaving Scotland with “broken public services.”
At First Minister’s Questions, Russell Findlay cited today’s Auditor General report and criticised John Swinney for a lack of transparency, leadership and vision.
The Auditor General report said there was not yet a “clear vision” for reforming public services and the government is “not providing effective leadership.”
It stated the government had “not been sufficiently transparent with the Scottish Parliament or the public about the current fiscal situation.”
The Auditor General stated: “The Scottish Government cannot afford its current spending choices.”
The report added that “the Scottish Government does not know what savings will result from reform, or what reform efforts will cost.”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Our tax plans are fully costed and they will be fully funded once the SNP show some transparency for a change and open the books on December 4.
“We would make substantial savings for taxpayers by reducing the benefits bill and cutting down on reckless SNP waste, so that our proposals for tax cuts for workers and businesses are responsible and affordable.
“The Auditor General’s latest report on SNP government spending and public services is scathing. It exposed the risks facing critical frontline services because of this government’s lack of transparency.
“Auditor general reports are like Groundhog Day – the same problems laid bare year after year, yet the SNP never, ever learn from their mistakes.
“John Swinney’s government is addicted to secrecy and disrespectful towards the paying public.
“This chaotic government doesn’t have a clue. They don’t know how much their plans to reform public services will cost or even how much money they might save.
“John Swinney will leave public service even worse off and waste taxpayers’ money on a grand scale.
“Under the SNP there is no leadership, no transparency, no answers.
“That’s what a John Swinney government really looks like – broken promises and broken public services.
“SNP ministers casually wasting public money with no regard to hard-working taxpayers.
“John Swinney and the SNP cannot be trusted with our public finances.”