It’s being reported Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has warned SNP government colleagues that her department is running at a loss and had made “all viable savings” after being asked to make further cuts.

The Sunday Times this weekend said Ms Hyslop warned the finance secretary that the transport portfolio “has been carrying a significant resource deficit since budget 2024-25 and as such, the portfolio has been operating within an emergency control environment since then with only the most critical spend required to ensure the safe running of the transport system being allowed to move forward”.

It quotes her as writing: “As a result, the portfolio identified and released all viable savings in advance of the financial year commencing while holding all remaining (more politically sensitive) discretionary spend as ‘last-resort savings’.”

The newspaper says the fact Ms Hyslop was prepared to put her concerns in writing, which could be leaked or released under freedom of information laws, demonstrates the turmoil within the cabinet over Robison’s demand for cuts.

The letter was released to Scottish Labour after a freedom of information request.

(Picture – Scottish Government)