SPENDING on Scotland’s roads fell by 10 per cent in real terms last year despite a £2.5 billion pothole backlog, Scottish Labour said yesterday.

Analysis by the party found that between 2022-23 and 2023-24, direct spending on the network by the SNP Scottish government fell in real terms by £70 million, on top of councils slashing investment by £80m.

On the campaign trail ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on June 5, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “In communities right across Scotland, our crumbling roads are a damning symbol of the SNP’s failure and the decline it has presided over.

“Despite the dismal state of Scottish roads, the SNP government decimated funding for roads across Scotland.

“In Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Labour is investing in improving roads despite SNP cuts — but [SNP candidate] Katy Loudon voted against this funding.”

An SNP spokesperson hit back: “Not only is Labour’s candidate unable to defend his own party’s record, but its party leader is now criticising Labour-run South Lanarkshire Council.

“Labour’s all over the place and the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse deserve better.”