SNP accused of building £1bn 'luxury resort' instead of high-security prison Scotland's first minister has been accused of building a "luxury resort" featuring "an orchard of fruit trees" instead of a high-security prison to "lock up rapists and murderers".
At First Minister's Questions on Thursday, Mr Findlay said taxpayers were "paying the price for this SNP incompetence" as he accused the Scottish government of "squandering more on a five-star prison" than on the nation's flagship Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
The MSP for West Scotland said: "Instead of building a high-security prison to lock up rapists and murderers, John Swinney thinks he's building either a luxury resort or a nature reserve.
Mr Swinney branded the tone of Mr Findlay's question "absolutely reprehensible and despicable", as he accused his political opponent of "obnoxious rhetoric" to curry favour with Conservative voters amid the rising popularity of rival party Reform UK.
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay criticised John Swinney over the soaring cost of HMP Glasgow, which will eventually replace the notorious HMP Barlinnie.
