The Scottish Conservatives will use their Parliamentary business slots in Holyrood on Wednesday to challenge John Swinney to reverse his decision.

John Swinney made no mention of the SNP manifesto pledge during his Programme for Government on Wednesday.

John Swinney made no mention of the SNP manifesto pledge during his Programme for Government on Wednesday.

The Scottish Government suffered a defeat on peak rail fares and another on free school meals on Wednesday.

The First Minister said the fight to eradicate child poverty was at the heart of his Programme for Government.

The First Minister said the fight to eradicate child poverty was at the heart of his Programme for Government.

John Swinney will set out plans to cut child poverty, 24 hours after his finance secretary wielded the axe on many government programmes.

After the SNP's former allies said they could vote against this year's budget, how else could the Scottish Government get its spending plans passed?

After the SNP's former allies said they could vote against this year's budget, how else could the Scottish Government get its spending plans passed?

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross accused John Swinney of considering 'public sector pen-pushers more important than freezing pensioners'.