A BUDGET watchdog has slammed a “lack of transparency” and called for “fundamental change” in the SNP Scottish government’s handling of the public purse.

Echoing the findings of a recent report from Holyrood’s cross-party finance committee and its own 2022 paper, which warned of severe financial challenges and short-termism in ministers’ approach to facing them from year to year, Audit Scotland has once again raised the alarm.

Citing the SNP Scottish government’s £460 million raid on one-off ScotWind revenues — raised by selling leases for offshore wind production — to meet pay awards this year, Audit Scotland warned that ministers appeared to have no idea how this cash would be found in future years.

Less than a fortnight before the SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison will present her draft Budget to Holyrood, auditor-general for Scotland Stephen Boyle warned: “People do not fully understand the medium-term risks public services are facing because of a lack of transparency from the Scottish government.

“The reality is that we need a fundamental change to how public money is spent to ensure services can meet demand and remain affordable beyond the short-term.

“The Scottish government must set out a clearer vision.”

Scottish Labour finance spokesman Michael Marra commented: “This damning report lays bare the chronic lack of transparency at the heart of this SNP government. 

“The SNP has created a black hole at the heart of public finances but has refused to be honest about how it happened or what it means.

“It’s time for a change in direction and an end to the SNP’s secrecy and incompetence on public finances.”

SNP Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said: “We welcome this report’s recommendations, many of which are aligned with our programme of public service reform.”