JOHN Swinney has been accused of "betrayal" after breaking a promise to give free school meals to all primary pupils.
The First Minister dumped support for a universal scheme despite pledging to "eradicate child poverty in office.
The SNP leader also failed to mention the drug deaths crisis in his first Programme for Government speech since taking over from Humza Yousaf.
Last night there was fury at the decision not to go ahead with the roll out of free school meals to P6 and P7 kids.
STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: "Betrayal is the only word to describe this reversal and is a continuation of the Scottish Government's approach in overpromising but failing -time and time again - to deliver." Swinney's Programme for Government featured 14 Bills and came 24 hours after he announced £500million of cuts to public spending.
He said he was making "tackling child poverty" his government's top priority and urged a divided parliament to seek "common ground" on the issue.
But Swinney's U-turn on free school meals for every primary school pupil - a manifesto promise in 2021 - led to huge criticism.
SNP Ministers had already delivered for all pupils in P1-5 but delivering on the last two years has proved a problem.
In his legislative statement last year, then-FM Humza Yousaf focused on kids who received the Scottish Child Payment in P6 and P7 while keeping the commitment to "universal" rollout.
Swinney's statement yesterday dropped the word "universal".
This story is from the September 05, 2024 edition of Daily Record.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 05, 2024 edition of Daily Record.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
KO'd Trapanovski misses out for Macedonia
JIM GOODWIN has confirmed Kristijan Trapanovski has had to pull out of the North Macedonia squad after suffering a hamstring problem in the weekend draw at Hibs.
WHAT A JOKE
STUART KETTLEWELL reckons it is laughable for anyone to question Andy Halliday’s commitment to Motherwell.
Simo's Steely resolve
Perth boss insists it will be all business on his return to Fir Park
Novichok cop: The moment I realised I'd been poisoned
A FORMER police officer choked back tears as he recalled being poisoned with Novichok while on duty in Salisbury.
Lisbon Lion statue bid raises £50k
Cash rolls in for Hoops hero honour
Judi Love: I want to do a PhD on laughter..
JUDI Love’s mantra is that laughter is healing, so it should come as no surprise that the comedian now plans to do a PhD on the subject.
2 CRASH TRUCKER WAS ON WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD
Lorry driver ignored warning before causing A9 collision
10 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER FIRE AT FLATS
Cops probe cause of property blaze
Post office robber is jailed for four years
Staff refused to hand over till cash
MINISTER SNARED IN PAEDO STING
Predator banned from contact with kids