THE First Minister’s decision to defend Michael Matheson and attack Holyrood’s standards committee will lead to a “Swinney slump,” according to Scottish Labour.

John Swinney attracted widespread criticism last week when he attacked the cross-party group’s decision to recommend suspending Mr Matheson for 27 days and dock 54 days of his wages.

Referring to comments made in November by Tory committee member Annie Wells, who described Mr Matheson’s actions as “riddled with lies, cover-ups and the need for us all to suspend our disbelief,” the First Minister had branded the process “prejudiced.”