LABOUR’S first Budget since returning to power will “herald an era of growth for Scotland,” Ian Murray said today as he challenged the Scottish government to channel any new cash to front-line services.

The Scottish Secretary made the remarks ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, Labour’s first in 15 years, despite reports of a cabinet revolt amid concerns some departments could face cuts of up to 20 per cent. 

Mr Murray said: “This Budget will herald an era of growth for Scotland, after years of damaging austerity from the Tories, made even worse for Scottish public services by the incompetent SNP.

“While Labour cleans up 14 years of Tory mess, the SNP created a mess of their own making, having wasted £5 billion over their years in office due to their own buy-now, pay-later policies.

“For three consecutive years, services have endured emergency in-year cuts from the chaotic SNP.

“Labour will end this short-term, populist politics and fix the foundations for the long-term. There will be no return to austerity.

“The SNP must ensure any additional funding for public services reaches the front line, bringing down waiting lists in the NHS and raising attainment in our schools — it can’t be used to plug the gaps. Scots rightly expect results.”

But SNP public finance minister Ivan McKee said: “Given the widespread reports of Labour ministers expressing concern at the cuts they are being asked to make in their own departments, it does not seem likely that we are going to see an end to the era of Westminster austerity.

“Without the immediate investment in public services that we need to see, it will be clear that this Labour government is committed to the same ruinous path as the previous Tory government.”