John Swinney has blamed "stupid economic decisions" made by the UK Government for fuelling inflation that is leaving all workers poorer. The Deputy First Minister today called for Westminster to increase the Scottish Government's budget so it could better support the NHS this winter as nurses plan unprecedented strike action.
Standing in for Nicola Sturgeon at today's First Minister's Questions, Swinney faced a barrage of questions from Labour and the Conservatives over what his government was doing to avoid a walk-out from nursing staff.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing voted for a strike yesterday in a long-running row over pay and conditions. The Educational Institute of Scotland - the country's largest teaching union - is expected to announce their own round of strikes later today.
