FIRST MINISTER John Swinney called for “concrete actions and fewer strategy documents” from his own government today.

Speaking at the Glasgow campus of under-fire banking giant Barclays, Mr Swinney pledged to govern from a “moderate, left of centre position,” reassuring assembled bankers he would take a “collaborative and inclusive” towards business.

He said: “We must search to remove obstacles, we must offer certainty to those prepared to make commitments to our economy.

“Rather more bluntly, I will demand from my government more concrete actions and fewer strategy documents.

“A strategic approach is clearly essential, but I want the first question we ask ourselves to be — what can we do, rather than what can we write down.”

Calling for a “strong, successful, innovative and dynamic economy” to deliver on his aims of tackling child poverty, Mr Swinney continued: “There is no conflict in my mind or in the priorities of my government between eradicating child poverty and boosting economic growth.

“For me, and for my government, eradicating child poverty and boosting economic growth go hand in hand.”