Labour and the SNP have traded insults over plans to slash then abolish a tax on flying into Scotland.
The official opposition’s “opportunity” spokesman Iain Gray accused the Nationalists of ditching £250 million of income each year by getting rid of Air Passenger Duty (APD).
The Scottish Government has outlined its plans to halve the tax by 2021 before scrapping it altogether. Ministers have announced a planned £25m a year to help poorer children.
Mr Gray said: “The SNP say that education is a priority but their spending decisions show that this just hasn’t been true.”
A spokesman for Finance Secretary John Swinney called the attack “ridiculous” and pointed to a survey suggesting that halving APD would add £1 billion to the Scottish economy by 2020.
Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she wants to implement a “progressive” taxation system when Holyrood gets more fiscal powers.
She was vague during a radio interview about exactly how she would implement the added responsibilities.
Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: “Nicola Sturgeon may have attempted to be cagey on the radio but the SNP’s intention is clear. It wants to hammer hard-working families in order to raise easy money.”