Mark reacted angrily to reports in yesterday’s Scotland on Sunday that the SNP is planning deep cuts in Scotland’s public services.

A leaked document in the paper shows plans by the SNP to cut 5% off every budget in the Scottish Government - with no exceptions and no targeting.

Mark said:

“These cuts show no regard for need in our community.

How can £2 billion worth of cuts be justified next year when next year's budget for Scotland is increasing by £700 million?”

The consequences of the planned cuts next year for Edinburgh would be 171 fewer teachers, 148 less police and 506 fewer nurses. This is at a time when trainee teachers, for instance, are already finding it almost impossible to find posts.

For Scotland as a whole, the effect would be the loss of 2500 teachers, 850 police officers, and 2375 nurses.

The notes of the meeting of civil servants show that the cut would be made next year, and that they are hoping for a Conservative victory at the general election to ease the cuts through.

At one point the note says: "Part of our task is to close the gap between officials' thinking and analysis and ministers' thinking. This is difficult ground for ministers – (they] need help to see the way through this," the note says.

The picture this gives is of a government floundering without the courage or vision to decide where priorities should lie and defend basic public services.

This comes at a time when the SNP/Lib Dem council in Edinburgh is coming under fire for its plans to close a number of primary schools.

Click here to read more on the campaign to save Royston Primary School and here for information on the Fighting for Fort Primary School campaign.