Nicola Sturgeon’s tax plan doesn’t add up, local MSP Jackie Baillie said at First Minister’s Questions.

The Dumbarton MSP was standing in for Scottish Labour at the weekly session when opposition leaders quiz Nicola Sturgeon.

The Scottish Government launched a ‘tax discussion paper’ with various policy options.

However, the most that any of the government’s options raise is £290 million -; well short of the figure needed to stop cuts to public services in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute.

Scotland’s day to day budget is forecast to fall by £863 million between this year and 2019-20.

On top of this, the SNP has promised to lift the public sector pay cap -; but has not outlined how it plans to pay for it.

Jackie said:

“The SNP’s tax plans don’t raise enough to cover the black hole in the budget and keep Nicola Sturgeon’s promises.

“With this government, promises are made to be broken. From class sizes, to student debt and our NHS, Nicola Sturgeon has left a string of broken promises behind.

“She has made a promise to public sector workers that they will get a pay rise, but has no idea how to pay for it.

“Now she has a tax plan that doesn’t add up and a list of commitments she knows she can’t pay for.

“The only question arising from these discussions is, what will the next broken promise be