IS SWINNEY DRAGGING SCOTLAND BACK TO THE 1950S?

Greens blast appointment of Forbes as Deputy First Ministe

- CHRIS MCCALL 

Sarwar savages new leader's record over 17yrs in government

PATRICK blasted the appointment of Kate Forbes as Deputy First Minister, saying it "takes Scotland back to the repressive values of the 1950s".

The Scottish Greens co-leader yesterday criticised John Swinney's decision at First Minister's Questions.

He said the signal being sent by the new First Minister was "clear", sacking "progressive ministers" for someone who has "opposed LGBT people's legal equalities".

The attack during Swinney's debut FMQs came after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused him of being "at the heart of every SNP failure of the last 17 years".

Sarwar grilled him over a pledge he made as education secretary in 2021 to increase the number of teachers in classrooms by 3500 by the next Holyrood election.

Swinney was asked if he would now "step in and save jobs" in Scottish schools.

Sarwar told MSPs: "John Swinney bears responsibility for the broken finances in our councils and the decimation of our education system.

"So don't give us the warm words, don't try and explain away the record, tell the pupils, their parents and teachers - what are you going to do to protect their education?"

Swinney responded it was "important to have an open discussion about the choices that face public authorities".