Scots are fed up with John Swinney 'passing the buck' for the SNP record

John Swinney and Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labor leader, were at loggerheads over public services. Photo: Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images Europe html.eip.telegraph.co.uk/bc72b371-0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de837.html?direct=true&id=bc72b371-0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de837&template=articleRendererHTML' class='tmg-particle Sticky-nav wrp-b c72b371 -0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de837' title='General Election' data-business-type='editorial' loading='eager' scroll='no' Frameborder='0'allow='web-share' style='width : 100%; min-width: 100%; border: none; position: relative; display: block; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;'>

An alarmed John Swinney was warned that Scots are «sick of you passing the buck» to Westminster as he came under constant attack during a televised debate.

The First Minister was forced to defend his management of the NHS, education, Covid and taxes, and he failed in his attempt to defend the brutal cuts to teacher numbers imposed by the Scottish National Party-run Glasgow City Council.

A frustrated parent shouted: «Stop passing the buck» as Mr Swinney responded as he tried to shift the blame to Labour.

«Get your flat in order before you move out»

Another panelist in the BBC debate from The University of Glasgow has regretted the amount of political debate over independence instead of improving internal services.

«I just think if you walk down the streets of Glasgow in some areas where businesses are closing, you'll see people sitting in the street begging,» he said, before addressing Mr Swinney directly.

“You cannot make an appointment with the dentist. I get angry when I turn on the TV and there is so much talk about independence. Get your apartment in order before you move out, John.»

The audience applauded and Mr. Swinney said: «The reason I believe in independence is because it gives us the power to decide what the very problems you are talking about.

However, Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, responded: “You have those powers now, John.”

The First Minister previously called independence a «great proposal» after Ross accused him of putting it ahead of the NHS and education.

The hour-long debate featured the Scottish leaders of the four parties that won seats north of the border in the 2019 general election, as well as Lorna Slater, co-chair of the Scottish Greens. They answered questions from the audience on a range of issues covering the economy, public services and the future of Scotland.

Even though the election was in Westminster, many in attendance attacked Mr Swinney over the Scottish National Party government's handling of public services in the country.

He said 173 teachers had lost their jobs in Glasgow this year and the SNP had cut the affordable housing budget by £200 million, leaving children in temporary accommodation.

Scottish leaders of the Lib Dems, Greens, Conservatives, Scottish National Party and Labor took part in the televised debate. Photo: Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images Europe

After the First Minister repeatedly sidestepped a decision while trying to claim Labor would cut spending by £18 billion, a frustrated mother has urged him to stop shifting the blame.

< p>She said: “This is addressed to Mr Swinney and I want a straight answer. Glasgow parents and Scottish parents are tired of you passing the buck. We're tired of hearing that Westminster is to blame for the education crisis.

“We're tired of hearing what Labor and the Tories will do. We want to know how you and your party are going to fix what is happening in the education sector.”

Another viewer, Anna, told how her 93-year-old mother recently waited six hours for an ambulance and two hours to get to the hospital. When asked how she was doing, she replied that she was “not doing very well.”

Mr Swinney acknowledged problems in the health service but again decided to launch an attack on Labor's spending plans, saying they would cut Scottish spending. Government.

However, Mr. Sarwar told him: “Read my lips. No austerity under Labour.”