Findlay’s criticism of Barlinnie replacement deemed ‘despicable’ by Swinney

Criticism of the replacement for Scotland’s biggest prison from Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has been described as “despicable” by the First Minister.

Russell Findlay hit out at the spiralling costs of HMP Glasgow, which will replace Barlinnie, after the Scottish Government announced the price tag will come close to £1 billion.

An initial estimate in 2014 suggested the cost of the facility could be £100 million.

The costs and the design of the facility have come in for criticism, but John Swinney accused the Scottish Tories of taking a hardline stance to shore up support among the party’s base, which may be vulnerable to shifting to the Nigel Farage-led Reform UK.

Speaking during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Mr Findlay said: “Instead of building a high-security prison to lock up rapists and murderers, John Swinney thinks he is building either a luxury resort or a nature reserve.

“The Justice Secretary says it will be ‘based around small communities living together and supporting each other’.

“There will be an orchard of fruit trees, there will be beautiful landscape gardens, planting beds, poly tunnels, amphitheatre-like steps.

“Surely, we need some common sense by building a prison at minimum cost to taxpayers, not maximum benefit to prisoners.”

Responding, the First Minister said: “I think the tone of Mr Findlay’s question is absolutely reprehensible and despicable.

“If he wants to have a dividing line in politics on this type of stuff, then I will happily be on the other side of the argument from Russell Findlay and all of the cohorts that he is courting in his question.”

Mr Findlay said the cohort he is speaking to is “hard-working Scots taxpayers”, and he accused the Scottish Government of building a “five-star” prison.

“That illustrates how detached the Holyrood bubble has become from the real world and it is why so many people are disillusioned with politics,” Mr Findlay said.

“This John Swinney Government is neglecting what really matters to people.

“So as a matter of urgency, will he commit to cutting these outrageous costs, or will he just expect taxpayers to pipe down and pay up?”

Mr Swinney then claimed it was “very visible” what Mr Findlay was doing with his comments.

“He is absolutely terrified of his party being consumed by Reform, as all the polls suggest, and is playing into their hands with every bit of obnoxious rhetoric that he comes out with today,” the First Minister said.