SCOTTISH Labour is urging the SNP to “wake up” to the scale of the challenges the country faces as the new parliamentary term kicks off today.

The party pointed to data released over the summer highlighting issues including record high NHS waiting lists, low economic growth, declining exam result pass rates and a widening poverty-related attainment gap.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “It’s time for the SNP to wake up to the scale of the challenges facing Scotland on its watch. 

“Year after year we have heard the same warm words from the SNP, but the spiral of decline continues.

“Instead of looking to deflect blame and make excuses, the SNP should set out a real plan to fix the mess it has made.”

It follows Scottish Labour’s report over the weekend, revealing that the Scottish government’s “incompetence” on the NHS has cost the Scottish taxpayer about £3.5 billion.

The party said that over £1.3bn has been lost to delayed hospital discharges since former health secretary Shona Robinson promised to eradicate the issue in February 2015, while agency staffing billed £1.6bn.

Ms Baillie said: “After almost two decades of SNP misrule our NHS is on its knees with lives at risk and the public finances in disarray as a result.

“Quite simply, the SNP’s stewardship of our NHS has left a legacy of deadly and costly failure and shame.

“Under the SNP, the very principle of treatment free at the point of need has been eroded as soaring waiting lists have undermined NHS dentistry and forced thousands into private healthcare.”