SNP denies 'nobbling' Fiscal Commission's oversight powers

Scottish government accused of blocking cross-party plans to give Fiscal Commission authority to review Holyrood's budgets

Scotland's finance secretary has been accused of killing off proposals in Holyrood to give a financial watchdog far greater powers to scrutinise his spending and borrowing plans.

Labour and Conservative members of Holyrood's finance committee said they were stunned after the Scottish National party's MSPs on the committee suddenly rejected proposals they had helped draft to give the Scottish Fiscal Commission more independence and authority to review John Swinney's budgets.

Related: Scotland's debt mountain: Holyrood's borrowing could hit 50bn by 2020