PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer called on the SNP today to be “honest about the financial mess” in Scotland as experts warn of “difficult decisions” ahead in Holyrood.

His comments come after the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission warned long-standing Scottish government policy on pay and public spending could “further increase pressure” on already tight budgets and lead to “difficult decisions” on the road ahead.

Boasting of his government’s willingness to take “tough decisions,” such as depriving millions of pensioners of winter fuel payments, Sir Keir said: “Just as we are being honest about our inheritance and honest about the difficult decisions we have had to make, it is time the SNP was honest about the financial mess which is of its own making from the last 17 years.”

SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison responded: “For months, Labour refused to be honest with voters that its spending plans would lead to billions of pounds of cuts to public services — despite repeated warnings from the SNP.

“Now, following the Chancellor’s announcement of £22 billion of cuts, Scotland faces the most challenging financial situation in the history of the reconvened Scottish Parliament.”