The British Government’s economic policies are “working” in Scotland, according to the Liberal Democrat leader at Holyrood.
Recent improvements to job figures show the Tory-Lib Dem coalition at Westminster is having an impact, Willie Rennie said.
He challenged First Minister Alex Salmond to accept he is “wrong” to have rejected the UK Government’s approach.
“He said the coalition plan would not work – now he claims the credit for that plan,” Mr Rennie said at First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament.
“There’s a lot more to do but it’s the coalition plan that’s building the stronger economy.”
Unemployment fell by almost 100,000 and the number of people in work topped 30 million for the first time on record across the UK, according to figures out yesterday.
In Scotland, the number of women in work has reached a 21-year high at the same time as unemployment has fallen.
Mr Salmond highlighted comments made by Lib Dem Westminster minister Vince Cable, who said London is becoming a giant suction machine draining the life from the rest of the country.
The First Minister said: “What I think he’s alluding to is there is an uneven development across the UK.”
Scottish ministers have used their powers to “mitigate” effects of cuts on spending from Westminster.
“Among the dramatic success indicated in the employment figures was the fact there are now 61,000 more women in Scotland in work than there were last year – that’s a great thing,” he said.
“That’s 3% more women working. If 3% can be achieved in one year, don’t you think 6% can be achieved in five years, given the transformational childcare policies for an independent Scotland?”