The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford spoke to Kay Burley on Sky News to discuss social care. Mr Blackford argued that the potential increase of National Insurance was unfair to those in Scotland and was an example of Westminster pushing their failures on to the rest of the country. Ms Burley then pressed the SNP member for an example of how the issues of social care could be resolved.

       Mr Blackford insisted it was up to the Westminster Government to solve the problem to which Ms Burley snapped back.

       She then demanded to know what solutions the SNP wanted the Government to propose instead if they were to remain critical.

       Mr Blackford said: "This shows once again that the Westminster Government are not working for the people in Scotland.

       "This has been a problem in England but Scottish taxpayers are now going to have to pay National Insurance if this goes through to fix this issue.

       "National Insurance is the wrong measure to be used in any case, it is a regressive tax.

       "When you think of a young person, earning 30,000 pounds a year, they are going to be paying an extra ￡204 in tax for this.

       "Tax has to be based on fairness."

       Ms Burley then asked what the SNP would suggest the Government would propose instead.

       She said: "What would you do instead?"

       Mr Blackford replied: "It is up to the Government in London to come forward with the proposals it wants to do.

       "What I would simply say is this is the wrong way to do it, there are other alternatives."

       Ms Burley interrupted to say: "With all due respect, what proposals would you like the Tory Government to come up with?"

       Mr Blackford claimed Scotland was able to adopt a more progressive taxing system and that the Westminster Government should do the same.

       More to follow...