What John Swinney said when we told him odds for an SNP win in Glasgow

John Swinney said it was "jaw-dropping" that a politician would bet on politics with "insider knowledge".

During a visit to Drumchapel Park in Glasgow West the First Minister said it was a moral issue.

He spoke about the betting scandal where Tory and Labour figures are under investigation for placing bets on the date of the general election.

He said he did not think he had ever placed a bet in his life, unless perhaps “a charity thing”.

The First Minister said: “I certainly haven't placed any bets on an election campaign, and there's something about the whole thing where my jaw drops about it, to be honest.”

He drew parallels with footballers being barred from betting on football.

He added: “There’s a kind of moral question here.”

He said politicians have “insider knowledge” about politics that the public doesn’t have.

Swinney said: “I wouldn't dream of saying that I must now go down to the bookies.”

When told Labour is currently 1/8 with the bookies to win Glasgow West with the SNP at 5/1, the first minister said he wasn't tempted.

He said that was "interesting" and "thanked" the Glasgow Times for its gambling information but said some might "disapprove".

He added: "I am going to resist the temptation to engage in your invitation to behave badly and we'll leave it at that."

John Swinney said people in Glasgow need to elect SNP MPs to “rail against continued austerity” under a Labour UK government.

The First Minister was in Drumchapel Park with Glasgow West candidate, Carol Monaghan, speaking to young people from the G15 youth project with just a week to go until the General Election.

He said people in the area need more resources directed to public services.

He gave a damning verdict on Labour’s spending plans and said there will need to be pressure applied to force Keir Starmer to take a different course to the Tories.

(Image: Colin Mearns)

Swinney said: “I think what people in this community need is greater investment in their public services and they need greater support in addressing the cost of living, which is directly related to the prevalence of child poverty in this community. “

Asked why they should elect Monaghan as MP he said: “Why they need to elect the SNP MP is that SNP MPs will rail against the continuation of austerity and the Labour Party needs to be pressurised to take a different stance on public expenditure.

“The IFS analysis of the Labour manifesto is devastating, utterly devastating.

“It's a wake-up call to everybody about what lies ahead for the public services.”

He added the public finances in Scotland are far more challenging now than when he was in government previously in charge of finance.

Swinney said: “I spent 10 years as finance minister, where I was thinking it was tough.

“It is nothing compared to what I'm wrestling with just now as first minister on the public finances and the public services.”

He said none of the essential services can take more cuts and any idea that they can is a “fallacy”.

He added: “We've already got enormous pressure on our health service, which is a protected area of public spending, and we're (Scottish Government) substantially increasing health expenditure and then we've got these unprotected areas where the pressure is intense.

“So that's why we need to have strong SNP voices in there.”

The SNP leader said he was looking to “win a majority of seats in Scotland”

Swinney said: “I'm keen to win this election and I'm going to win the election. I mean with the majority of seats that's what I'm after.”