Alexander Burnett today joined Ruth Davidson in slamming the SNP after Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today that a tax cut for homebuyers will instead be put into Scottish Government coffers.

At First Ministers’ Questions, Nicola Sturgeon admitted that £11m of the windfall she received from the UK Government’s stamp duty cut will be kept by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government received an extra £64m as a direct consequence of the Conservative Led UK Government’s cut in stamp duty.

However, the Scottish Parliament’s own information service, has confirmed that the SNP Government’s new proposals on Land and Buildings Transaction Tax – announced on Wednesday - will cost only £53 million. It means that £11m will now remain in the Scottish Government for it to spend ahead of the elections in 2015 and 2016.

Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader said:

“We welcomed the partial climb down by the SNP on Wednesday – forced on them due to pressure from the Scottish Conservatives and the actions of the Conservative-led Government.”

“However, Nicola Sturgeon has now confirmed that £11m of that tax cut will now be kept for the SNP Government’s election war chest.”

“It is simply not good enough. This isn’t the SNP’s money, it’s taxpayers.”

“John Swinney was quite clear  - he told Parliament that he would not be seeking to raise a penny more or a penny less than the system he is replacing.”

“Under current plans, that pledge is being broken.”