THE SNP are “heaping austerity” on Scottish services, according to a socialist MSP, following the party’s campaign against the “twin threats” of austerity and privatisation. 

First Minister John Swinney spent the first weekend of the general election campaign touring constituencies as part of an SNP “day of action,” urging voters to reject both Tories and Labour as parties of austerity and privatisation.

Focusing on the NHS, which has been wholly controlled by Holyrood since devolution, Mr Swinney said: “What the NHS needs is serious leadership and a bold vision for the future based on its founding principles, not threats to its survival from the Westminster parties.