John Swinney has been told that the SNP’s drugs policy will continue to cost lives unless they ditch their failing agenda.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay challenged the SNP leader at First Minister’s Questions over the number of drug deaths in Scotland.
The number of deaths rose by 11 per cent compared to 2024, with 1,133 Scots losing their lives to drugs in 2025.
Findlay highlighted that since the SNP’s drug consumption room opened in Glasgow last year, the number of deaths in the city have gone up.
Swinney previously claimed that there was significant evidence that the consumption room had saved lives.
Findlay told him to rule out another such facility opening in Edinburgh and instead spend the money on rehabilitation services.
He said that the SNP’s approach is trapping those addicted in a life of misery.
He also slammed the response from the SNP’s drugs minister Maree Todd yesterday in Parliament who blamed Westminster for the SNP’s fatal culpability with Scotland continuing to have the worst drugs death rate in Europe.
Todd also was the minister responsible for rejecting the Scottish Conservatives’ Right to Recovery Bill in Holyrood last year.
Swinney then rejected Findlay’s charge that the SNP’s failing approach and the refusal to back his party’s bill will cost even more lives.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “John Swinney and his SNP government continue to preside over the worst drugs death rate in Europe.
“But he doubled down on his failed approach that is costing lives.
“Swinney has repeatedly championed his party’s drug consumption room in Glasgow, but all the evidence shows that since it opened, drug deaths have gone up in the city.
“Yet there are plans for another such facility to be opened in Edinburgh.
“John Swinney needs to start respecting the evidence. The facility in Glasgow should be shut down, the plans for another one in Edinburgh should be stopped and the money urgently diverted towards rehabilitation services instead.
“The SNP’s approach to only supporting harm reduction only traps addicts in a life of misery.
“Ministers are busy peddling the lie that dangerous drugs can be taken safely.
“His drugs minister Maree Todd couldn’t say whether she’s doing a good job or not. We know the answer. She isn’t.
“She’s responded to these horrific figures by pathetically blaming Westminster for her own party’s fatal culpability.
“This comes after she blocked our Right to Recovery Bill last year, which would have guaranteed treatment to all those who need it.
“John Swinney needs to accept reality. His failing approach and shameful refusal to back our bill is going to continue to cost lives.”
