JOHN SWINNEY claimed “fresh leadership has just arrived and I’m right here to deliver it” as he faced his inaugural First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.

Just 24 hours after being sworn-in as Scotland’s seventh First Minister, Mr Swinney was taken to task on the SNP Scottish government’s record on teacher numbers.

The party had pledged to boost numbers by 3,500 at the last election, but numbers have fallen and a recent decision by SNP-led Glasgow City Council to shed 450 teachers over the next three years has thrown light on financial predicament of Scotland’s councils.