JOHN Swinney accused Anas Sarwar of “posturing” as they clashed over reports that SNP figures were plotting to oust the First Minister.
It came as the pair discussed the hundreds of job losses at a Scottish bus manufacturer during First Minister's Questions (FMQs) on Thursday.
The Scottish Labour leader pointed to reports that senior SNP figures had held a meeting to discuss Swinney’s future as party leader, during an exchange discussing the closure of the Alexander Dennis factory in Falkirk.
On Wednesday, Alexander Dennis announced it will look at consolidating its UK bus body manufacturing operations into a single site in Scarborough as part of a restructuring which is putting 400 jobs at risk.
Swinney said he was “deeply concerned” by the looming closure and said that ministers are engaging “closely and firmly” to avoid any “negative implications” for Scottish workers.
Sarwar claimed that the Scottish Government procured more buses from China than Scotland, and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham had bought more than Scottish ministers.
He then said that the First Minister had given a “weak response”, before bringing up reports that SNP figures had given Swinney two weeks to come up with ideas to save his job.
“If he hasn’t come up with a good idea to improve Scotland in 18 years, what chance have you got coming up with something now?” Sarwar asked.
The First Minister replied: “What I’m doing, and what the workforce of Alexander Dennis will not be surprised at, is that I’m focusing on the situation facing Alexander Dennis. That’s what I’m doing.”
He added that the Scottish Government had provided £58 million in funding for the firm for zero emissions buses, and that Scottish Enterprise has also given the firm £30.3m for research and development.
The First Minister continued: “The stark reality is that current UK policy does not allow for the incentivisation or reward of local content, job retention or creation, nor does it encourage any domestic economic benefit.
“That is the implication of the subsidy control act.”
Sarwar replied: “If John Swinney can’t figure out a way to order buses in Scotland, I suggest he picks up the phone to Andy Burnham and see how he managed to do it five times, almost five times as many bus orders.
“John Swinney and the SNP are out of ideas, out of steam, and out of time.
“Failing to support Scottish manufacturing jobs is just one example.”
He added: “One SNP MSP said about John Swinney, there is no energy, no fire, no boldness, no long-term vision.
“They're right, aren't they?”
Swinney fired back: “Listen, Mr Sarwar can conjure up all the stuff he wants.
“He can go through his press cuttings, he can practice it in the mirror in the morning to see how it sounds.
“I’m going to be focussed on delivering answers and solutions for workers who face difficulty in the country.
“And while Mr Sarwar postures, I’m going to deliver for the workers of Scotland.”
Elsewhere, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay claimed the Scottish Government are "wasting billions of pounds of taxpayer money" and that the "SNP anti-business policies are costing Scotland a fortune".
"The SNP have failed to keep up with the rest of the UK," he said.
"They've made it even worse by wasting billions of pounds of taxpayers' money for the National Care Service that doesn't treat patients, the endless Calmac ferry scandal, a £1 billion prison."
Swinney fired back that since 2007, GDP per person has grown by 10.3% compared to 6.1% in the UK, demonstrating "superior economic performance".
"There are implications of Mr Findlay saying things like the annual benefits bill is too high," the FM said.
"He has to set out where the cuts are going to come from, and the cuts under Mr. Findlay will fall on the children of Scotland.
"I want to lift children out of poverty. Mr. Findlay wants to consign children to poverty."
Findlay responded: "The Scottish Conservative party wants to lift children and families out of poverty, not keep them trapped on benefits."
And, Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater, discussing the expansion of free school meals, said that children would be "forced into poverty thanks to a Labour Government balancing the books on the backs of the poorest while the wealthiest grow ever richer".
She added: "Does the First Minister agree that now is the time to demand that Keir Starmer set out exactly what conditions he believes need to be met to trigger an independence referendum so we can get out of this unequal union?"
The FM replied: "I think it's unacceptable democratically for the will of this parliament, which has demanded the power to be able to hold a referendum on independence, is ignored by the United Kingdom Government, I think that is democratically unacceptable."
