Swinney suggests Scots will not travel further for health care as part of reforms

Opponents criticized Swinney’s remarks and called on him to explain more clearly how the plans would work.

Acting Scottish Labor leader Jackie Baillie said: “It’s hard to say whether John Swinney is evasive or simply has no idea what he’s going to do, but either way it’s not enough.

“With people’s jobs at risk and our public services at risk of being thrown into chaos, Scotland deserves to know what lies ahead.

“The SNP must be honest about what it is planning, how many jobs are at risk and what it will mean for our public services.”

Scottish Conservative finance and welfare spokesman Craig Hoy said: “John Swinney was asked a simple question about his own plans and he repeatedly refused to answer it.

“He cannot say how many NHS jobs could be lost but expects Scots to believe he is in control of the Scottish National Party’s £5 billion budget black hole.

“This is a First Minister who is completely out of his depth, trying to bluff his way through the growing financial chaos his party has created.”

Reform Britain’s leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, accused Swinney of trying to dodge questions about job cuts by answering questions with “word salad”.

He told The Sunday Show: “I’m surprised to hear that a government that has been in place for 19 years still can’t come up with names and figures in relation to reorganization.”