Craig Hoy: “These bombshell figures expose the recklessness of the SNP making Scotland the highest taxed part of the United Kingdom.”

John Swinney was clearly ignoring the warnings from business leaders and economists that continually hiking taxes kills growth.

Instead of reining in Scotland's out-of-control benefits bill, Swinney and his new finance secretary Jenny Gilruth are clearly intent on raising tax even further on people and business to fund their endless profligacy.

The bank must not become another SNP vanity project where taxpayers are left to foot the bill for failure while ministers dodge responsibility.

It’s indefensible that, while John Swinney imposes soaring taxes and cuts essential services to the bone, he and his Nationalist ministers refuse to cut their own cloth accordingly.