THE Scottish government was told to put its unspent money where its anti-austerity rhetoric is yesterday by using the £444 million underspend to help cash-strapped councils and defend vital public services.

Congress delegates unanimously backed a demand for a moratorium on public sector job cuts, and backed the People’s Assembly and other community campaigns for full employment and fair pay.

Edinburgh TUC’s Duncan Smith said: “People think the public sector has been saved north of the border in some miraculous way — but that’s just not the case.