THE Scottish government kicked its plans to establish a national care service (NCS) into the long grass today, caving in after months of pressure from carers, councils, unions and opposition parties.

The plans to centralise social care in Scotland and substitute commissioning bodies for the remaining democratic oversight have long faced opposition from the Unison, GMB and Unite trade unions, which formally withdrew support in September, swiftly followed by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorties (Cosla).

In the last month, the STUC and the Scottish Greens have also pulled their critical support for the Bill, leaving the SNP with little chance of steering it through its second stage at Holyrood on November 26 and leaving Social Care Minister Maree Todd with the job of writing to the health, social care and sport committee on Wednesday to announce a pause until “the new year.”